[View the story "Saudi Arabia arrests another writer over tweets" on Storify ]Saudi Arabia arrests another writer over tweets Reactions online polarised over Turki Al-Hamad’s arrest. Storified by The Stream · Mon, Dec 24 2012 16:28:40
[Translation] “Our Prophet came to rectify the faith of Abraham, and now is a time when we need someone to rectify the faith of Mohammed.”
جاء رسولنا الكريم ليصحح عقيدة إبراهيم الخليل، وجاء زمن نحتاج فيه إلى من يصحح عقيدة محمد بن عبدالله..Turki H. Alhamad
Al-Hamad tweeted other religious and social commentary on Islam and Saudi society that some found controversial:
[Partial translation] "Neo-Nazism is on the rise in the Arab world under the face of Islamism...."
نازية جديدة تطل بوجهها على عالم العرب اسمها الإسلاموية..ولكن زمن النازية ولى..وستشرق الشمس من جديد..Turki H. Alhamad
[Translation] "They deceived us and said the law of God, and in the end there are only the ideas of girls".
خدعونا فقالوا شرع الله، وما هو في النهاية إلا بنات أفكارهم..Turki H. Alhamad
[TRANSLATION] "The world is busy with Iran's nuclear capability and we are busy with women driving...cars..."
العالم مشغول بقدرة إيران النووية ونحن مشغولون بقيادة المرأة للسيارة..هزلت..Turki H. Alhamad
Prince Nayef wasreportedly alerted to Al-Hamad’s tweets by a religious organisation. Saudi blogger and journalist Ahmed Al Omran tweeted the specific organisation,which has not been independently verified:
The hashtag
اعتقال_تركي_الحمد# ("The arrest of Turki Al-Hamad") trended in Saudi Arabia and many used it to denounce his arrest:
Turki al-Hamad is one of the most famous #Saudi novelists, his arrest would be another attack on Saudi liberals and free speech in #KSA.Toby Matthiesen
Turki Al-Hamad joins a long list of prisoners of conscience detained for nothing more than an opinionWe salute u Turki#اعتقال_تركي_الحمدHisham Malaika
No 140 character tweet can express the depression I feel knowing the fate of any truthful voice in my country is prison.#اعتقال_تركي_الحمدHisham Malaika
#اعتقال_تركي_الحمد you can never jail ideas but you can jail people expressing them- a sure way to spread the very ideas in question!Khaled Al Jaser
Yet another tragic attack on freedom of speech in #Saudi Arabia.#اعتقال_تركي_الحمدBayan
However, an alternative hashtag
الزنديق_تركي_الحمد# ("Turki Al-Hamad the heretic") also emerged, with many supporting the arrest:
There is an alternative hashtag for Turki Al Hamad's arrest that is worth seeing. It's #الزنديق_تركي_الحمد (Turki Al Hamad the heretic)Abbas Al Lawati
[TRANSLATION] "If the news is correct about the #Arrest of Turki Al Hamad, I lift my hat out of respect for the champion [Saudi Interior Minister] Mohammed bin Nayef, who avenged God Almighty and avenged the Holy Prophet".
ان صحّ خبر #اعتقال_تركي_الحمد فأنا ارفع قبعتي احتراما للبطل محمد بن نايفاللي انتقم لله عز وجل وانتقم لرسولنا الكريم من #الزنديق_تركي_الحمدأحمـد
[PARTIAL TRANSLATION] "#Praise the arrest of the heretic Turki al-Hamad. It's a step in the right direction. Thanks to those responsible..."
#الزنديق_تركي_الحمد أمر القبض على الزنديق تركي الحمد خطوة في الإتجاه الصحيح يشكر عليها المسؤول،أرجو أن يتبعها خطوات تعبر عن وجهة مهبط الوحي.سعد ناصر الغنام
This is not the first time a Saudicitizen has been arrested for controversial tweets. Hamza Kashgari, a youngSaudi poet, was arrested in February for tweeting an imaginary conversation with the Prophet Mohammed that authorities deemed offensive. Kashgari was charged with apostasy and remains in prison tothis day. The Stream covered Kashgari’s story, which can be seen below:
Saudi journalist faces trial over tweetsAJstream
