A Sudanese journalist detained more than a month ago without charge in Saudi Arabia fears that he may be deported to Sudan.
Waleed al-Hussein al-Dood runs a website noted for its criticism of the Sudanese government over corruption and human rights abuses.
His family believe he would be at risk of arrest and abuse by security forces if he is deported to Sudan.
Al-Dood, founder of the independent news website Al-Rakoba, was arrested on 23 July in the eastern Saudi city of Al-Khobar. He has been denied access to his lawyer, his brother, Hussein al-Hussein, told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Al-Dood, a Sudanese citizen, has lived in Saudi Arabia for 15 years. He launched Al-Rakoba in 2005. It publishes reports and editorials from Sudanese and international contributors and has been blocked several times by the Sudanese authorities.
Al-Hussein told CPJ that agents of the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services have threatened al-Dood for years, saying they would kill him.
“We are extremely concerned for Waleed al-Hussein al-Dood’s safety should he be forced to return to Sudan,” said the CPJ’s Middle East and north Africa programme coordinator, Sherif Mansour. “Al-Dood has a right to be granted access to his lawyer and should know the reasons for his arrest.”
Sources: Sudan Tribune/CPJ
