The Citizen Mohsen  al-Turki Under a Sectarian Oppression 

The Committee   for  the  Defense  of  Human  Rights  in the  Arabian Peninsula

( CDHRAP )

DATE  : 17 / 02/ 2007  

NO  : 129/ H / 2007

According to information received by CDHRAP . Mohsen Mohammad  al-Turki , a 30-year-old a teacher from the Eastern Province , was arrested on 11 February  at the Khfji  check-point on the Saudi Kuwait frontier . He was traveling to Kuwait  with his family . He was held at the Khfji check-point detention center .

Previously, al-Turki was arrested in 1999 reportedly on suspicion of insulting the prophet and his followers after performing religious rites at the Prophet Mohammad Shrine in Al Madina Al Monawara , an accusation he denied. He was sentenced to 8 months'  imprisonment and 350 lashes . He was released on bail after dropping the lashes .

CDHRAP is concerned that he might face execution after an unfair trial . We call on the international community and human rights non-governmental organizations to urge the Saudi Arabian authorities to release Al-Turki . This case reminded us of the case of the citizen Sadiq 'Abd al-Karim Mal Allah, a Shi'a Muslim, was executed in 1992. He was charged with apostasy . He denied the charge . He was arrested in 1985 and released after one year according to a pardon . In 1988 he was arrested again, tortured into signing a confession . He had no access to a lawyer and was given no opportunity to defend himself .  On 3 September 1992 he was publicly beheaded in al-Qatif.

CDHRAP call the international community , international human rights and non-governmental organizations to put pressure on the Saudi regime to release the citizen Mohsen al-Turki.