Proposed law: Criticize Saudi king, go to jail

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 22 (UPI) -- Human rights activists say a counter-terrorism law proposed by the Saudi Arabia government would effectively squelch political dissent.

The proposed law would give the Interior Ministry wide powers and mandate jail terms for criticizing the king, The New York Times reported.

Additionally, the law would allow prisoners to be held with no bail and trials and appeals would be handled secretly.

Activists have criticized Saudi Arabia's record on civil rights and say the proposed law would be a huge step backward.

"Every single thing we criticized them about in the past is going to be legitimate," said Bassem Alim, the defense lawyer for a group of men imprisoned in 2007 on terrorism charges.

The men were formally charged last August, and their real crime, Alim said, was just taking basic steps toward forming a political party.

"Ninety-nine percent of the law has nothing to do with terrorism; it has to do with political dissent," Alim said.

Brig. Gen. Mansour Turki, Interior Ministry spokesman,declined to comment on the proposed law, the Times said.

Amnesty International said the law, among other things, uses vague terms such as "harming the reputation of the state."

It mandates a 10-year prison term for calling the the king or a crown prince an infidel.