Breakthrough in Saudi Arabia! "Saudi Arabia's first independent human rights organization won royal blessing Tuesday in the latest sign of political reform within the conservative Muslim kingdom." So says [1] Reuters.

In other Saudi news: "The Saudi authorities have arrested a lawyer for criticising the arrests of as many as 13 liberal and moderate Islamist figures. They were picked up on Tuesday by police as they were about to announce an independent human rights body." This from [2] Straits Times.

Still a few bugs in the system, eh?

Oh, and what exactly are "liberal and moderate Islamists"? (Thanks to Nicolei for both links.)