A Cairo-based rights group on Tuesday condemned Saudi authorities' blocking of Amnesty International's website after it criticized the country's draft anti-terrorism bill.
On Monday, human rights advocate Amnesty International said its website was blocked in Saudi Arabia for a few days after the rights group slammed the draft bill, saying it suppresses the right to peaceful protest.
The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) joined Amnesty in condemning the draft law, which includes penalties such as 10 years in prison for anyone who questions the credibility of the king or crown prince.
The bill also grants authorities the right to arrest suspects for an indefinite period of time while depriving them of the right to challenge their arrest, ANHRI said.
It defines "terrorist crimes" too loosely and would allow authorities to punish people for peaceful expression of their views, the group said.
The network also said Saudi Arabia tops the list of states most suppressive of freedoms and that it supports suppression anywhere.
It said Saudi authorities' decision to block the website yesterday is a sign the country fears that the tide of revolutions sweeping through the Arab world will eventually reach them.
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