Hamas urges Saudi Arabia to free jailed leader

By Waseem Saifeddin
ISTANBUL (AA) – Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Tuesday renewed calls for Saudi authorities to release group leader Mohammed Al-Khudari and other Palestinians held in prison.

In a statement, Hamas leader Ra'fat Mourra described the continued detention of Al-Khudari and other Palestinians as "affront to the Palestinian people, their just cause and to the Palestinian-Saudi relations”.

"We call upon the Saudi leadership to turn this page, end this trial and return back the detainees to their families," Mourra added.

According to Hamas, Saudi authorities have arrested 60 group members and sympathizers, including Al-Khudari.

Riyadh has declined to comment on the issue, only saying that the detainees are enjoying their rights enshrined in law.

In February, Amnesty International said Al-Khudari, 83, had undergone surgery and was being treated for prostate cancer when the Saudi authorities arrested him and his son Hani Al-Khudari on April 4, 2019.

The London-based rights group called on the Saudi king to ensure that “unfounded charges” against Al-Khudari and his son are dropped and that they are released.

Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara