Saudi sentences 2 activists to prison for 8 and 9 years respectively for reform calls
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Saudi human rights lawyer says two activists have been sentenced to prison in the kingdom on a range of charges related to their rights work and calls for political reform.
Abdelrahman al-Hamid was sentenced to nine years in jail, banned from traveling abroad after his release for another nine years and fined 50,000 Saudi riyals ($13,300). Al-Hamid was a founding member of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights.
Abdelaziz al-Sinedi was sentenced to eight years in prison, banned from traveling for another eight years and also fined. He was active on Twitter and signed petitions calling for reform.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The lawyer, who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisal, told The Associated Press Wednesday that both were sentenced Tuesday by Saudi Arabia's Specialized Criminal Court.