Riyadh Sentences Al-Khodari, Others to Prison
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Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports that the Saudi authorities sentenced former Hamas representative Mohammed al-Khodari to 15 years in jail and his son to three years.
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Former Hamas representative Mohammed al-Khodari
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the Saudi authorities sentenced former Hamas representative Mohammed al-Khodari to 15 years in jail, with a half-suspended sentence. Al-Khodari's son, Hani, was sentenced to three years in prison, according to their family.
The Saudi authorities accuse some 60-70 Palestinian and Jordanian figures residing in the KSA on charges of "supporting the Palestinian resistance and Hamas."
The authorities gathered the detainees in the capital, Riyadh, and they were detained in several prisons in different regions.
Commenting on these rulings, Mahmoud al-Zahar, a top Hamas leader, told Al Mayadeen that the Saudi rulings against the detainees were "unexpected."
Apropos Mohammed al-a and his son's trial, Al-Zahar said that trying the detainees was "illegal," asking, "What crime did they commit against Saudi Arabia?"
"The Saudi rulings are in compliance with the Zionist orders," he added, continuing to say: "Is giving Saudi donations to those who deserve them in Palestine a crime against Saudi Arabia?"
Al-Zahar said the rulings came as a means to please "Israel," as he indicated that al-Khodari's actions were legitimate, "He did not commit any crime."
The Hamas official concluded his interview with Al Mayadeen by saying that those who allowed for the rulings should be held accountable, not the Saudi people. He called on the Saudi authorities to free al-Khodari "for humanitarian reasons first, because he is of old age," Al-Zahar clarified.
PIJ Condemn Saudi's Decisions
Palestinian Islamic Jihad issued a statement condemning what it called the "campaign of unjust and unfair rulings that affected some Palestinian citizens residing in Saudi Arabia on charges of supporting our people's resilience."
PIJ official Khodr Habib said, "The Saudi charges against the detainees are political, invalid, and unsupported."
"These rulings hurt the historic relationship between the Kingdom and the Palestinian people. They only serve the occupation's interests," Khodr added.
In February, Hamas had called on the Saudi authorities to release Mohammed al-Khodari and all Palestinian detainees in KSA. The movement expressed concern over Amnesty International's report on al-Khodari's health situation, which puts his life in danger.
In Gaza, al-Khodari's birthplace, Gazans held a stand in solidarity with the Hamas official. The participants stressed the need for human rights organizations to intervene and attempt to solve the issue.khod
