Saudi “reform” update. From the BBC, with thanks to J.J. Johnson:
Saudi police have arrested nine people who tried to attend the trial of three reform campaigners, witnesses say.
The nine include two journalists and relatives of the trio. Diplomats were among others wanting to attend who were barred from the court.
The trial went ahead behind closed doors at the Riyadh courthouse, despite earlier reports suggesting it would be open to the public.
Judges decided to send the case which began in August to a lower court.
Ali al-Demaini, Matruq al-Faleh and Abdullah al-Hamed are accused of campaigning for political change and a constitutional monarchy.
They are also charged with collecting signatures for a petition demanding change.
The trio were among about a dozen activists arrested in March. Most were freed after pledging to stop pro-reform activities. Overt public dissent is rare in conservative Saudi Arabia.
That’s another example of the witless journalistic tendency to label anything they don’t like “conservative,” and anything they do like “liberal.” So in their view, both the opponents of the global jihad in the West and the backers of the global jihad in Saudi Arabia are “conservatives.” Go figure.