Family plea to free detainee
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 28th May 2007
A BAHRAINI family is seeking answers from Saudi authorities as to why their Emirati relative Khalil Al Janahi was arrested last month, along with 171 others suspected of planning terrorist attacks.
The 172 suspects were arrested in Saudi Arabia on April 27 for allegedly planning to carry out an attack on oil facilities and military bases.
Mr Al Janahi, in his late 30s, was born in Bahrain and was on his way to Bahrain when he was arrested at Riyadh airport, said his Bahraini attorney and legal advisor Abdulla Hashim.
Family plea to free detainee
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 28th May 2007
A BAHRAINI family is seeking answers from Saudi authorities as to why their Emirati relative Khalil Al Janahi was arrested last month, along with 171 others suspected of planning terrorist attacks.
The 172 suspects were arrested in Saudi Arabia on April 27 for allegedly planning to carry out an attack on oil facilities and military bases.
Mr Al Janahi, in his late 30s, was born in Bahrain and was on his way to Bahrain when he was arrested at Riyadh airport, said his Bahraini attorney and legal advisor Abdulla Hashim.
He has been studying Islamic science in Saudi Arabia for more than10 years and holds a UAE passport along with his father and brother, while his wife, sisters and other brothers are Bahraini citizens.
His sister Om Ebrahim has been in contact with relatives in Saudi Arabia, who have been trying to convince authorities to release him. She is also in touch with the UAE Embassy in Saudi Arabia, but without any success.
“We are talking about him and following up the circumstances of his arrest, but we haven’t received any news from the Saudi government and there have been no official charges,” Mr Hashim told the GDN yesterday.
Mr Hashim is worried that Mr Al Janahi may face the same fate as his other client, Bahraini Abdulla Rahim Al Murbati, who has been detained by Saudi authorities four years ago without charge or any legal proceedings against him.
The lawyer said he was prevented from seeing his client during his detainment, although Mr Al Murbati’s wife and children were allowed to visit him from time to time.
“I sent a letter to the Saudi government asking about him, but there was no response,” explained Mr Hashim.
“It’s a very bad situation – I can’t see them and don’t know the charges or about the evidence against them. We believe there are no charges. They are both held in Riyadh,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said earlier that it had contacted Saudi authorities, which confirmed there were no Bahrainis amongst those arrested.
“Khalil is originally Bahraini, but now holds a UAE passport and that’s why the government said no Bahrainis had been arrested,” added Mr Hashim.
becky@gdn.com.bh
© Gulf Daily News