Saudi activist Waleed Abu al Khair arrested over ‘unauthorised’ meetings

Saudi authorities detained prominent rights activist Waleed Abu Al Khair for setting up an "unauthorized" gathering hall where he held meetings with reformists in the absolute monarchy, his wife said. Abu Al Khair, was taken into custody for setting up "an unauthorized diwaniah," or gathering place, and "due to his relations with the reformists and for hosting them in our diwaniah," Samar Badawi said, AFP reported Wednesday. She said Abu Al Khair will be interrogated on Thursday by the public prosecutor of Jeddah, who will decide whether to release him on bail on keep him in custody. The lawyer is already facing two trials over disrespecting the judiciary and having contact with foreign organizations. In June 2012, Abu Al Khair was accused of "disrespecting the judiciary system... contacting foreign organizations and signing a petition demanding the release of detainees", his wife said at the time. Three months earlier, authorities banned him from travelling to the United States where he had been due to attend a forum organized by the State Department, he said. And in February 2011, he signed two petitions demanding political reform in the ultra-conservative kingdom, where political parties are banned. Abu Al Khair has created a group on Facebook - Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi - which has nearly 7,000 members.