Zaid Hamid sentenced to 8 years, 1,000 lashes in Saudi Arabia: report

The news could not be confirmed by the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh or the Foreign Office


Web Desk July 01, 2015
PHOTO: Zaid Hamid's Pictorial Blog

Pakistani analyst and commentator Zaid Hamid has been sentenced for eight years in jail and 1,000 lashes by a Saudi court for criticising the Saudi government, according to local media reports. However, the news has not been corroborated by the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh or the Foreign Office. 

Earlier, Hamid was arrested during a private visit to the Kingdom with his wife. He was apparently taken into custody after making statements against the Saudi government.

On June 26, the Foreign Office confirmed Hamid had been arrested in Saudi Arabia.

Read: Zaid Hamid arrested in Saudi Arabia

“Our embassy in Riyadh has informed us that Mr Zaid Hamid was arrested about two weeks ago. Since then, the embassy has been working with the local authorities to get consular access,” Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah had told a news briefing in Islamabad.

“Due to the efforts of the embassy, his wife was able to talk to him. Again, due to the efforts of the embassy, his wife will be able to meet with him on 30 June,” he said without giving further details.

In 2013, a former aide who left Hamid’s organisation accused him of being on the payrolls of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency to wage psychological operations against those opposed to the Pakistani security establishment.

COMMENTS (108)

M Naeem Afridi | 8 years ago | Reply his speeches having the most truth, he has been defined the enemies of Islam and Pakistan, he predicated the role of Pakistan for the success of Islam. zh tries to trained the pakistani youth according to ideology of pakistan and this s not spreading of hatred. if following the ideology of pakistan is hatred then i ask everyone of you that why did we got pakistan, what are the obejectives of creating pakistan. we should not ignore the role of pakistan for islam and that is what zh teaches and convey in his speeches. his arrest and sentenced in S.A is great tragedy for every pakistani. i heartedly share my grief with his family and every pakistani who are waiting to hear his speach. May ALLAH Almighty protect him! Aameen!
abdul basit | 8 years ago | Reply m totally confused who iz actually zh m confused weather he iz gd for muslim ummah weather he petriotic or not.some people sketchs his picture like a hero some like a villan. i don't knnow he iz right or what iz wrong??
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