RIYADH (Reuters) -
A Saudi blogger detained without charge
for more than four months after expressing pro-reform opinions
has been released, a colleague said on Saturday.
Fouad Farhan was detained in early December after running
an online campaign over 10 men arrested since February 2007 on
suspicion of financing militant groups, but whose supporters
say they are being punished for pro-democracy activity.
"I spoke to him and he's in good spirits. He said he was
treated really well," said Ahmed al-Omran, who published the
news on his website (https://www.saudijeans.org).
"It was surprising. After blocking his website, I thought
his detention would go on longer. It's good news."
Saudi authorities blocked Farhan's website
(https://www.alfarhan.org) earlier this month.
An Interior Ministry spokesman was unable to confirm
Farhan's release. The ministry had declined to say on what
charges he was arrested, but said it was not security related.
Saud Arabia, a key U.S. ally, has no political parties or
elected parliament, and many Web forums calling for reforms
have been blocked by the government.
An Islamist preacher was detained for nearly two weeks in
2006 for an Internet article that criticized government
ministers.
(Reporting by Andrew Hammond; Editing by Giles Elgood)
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