Al-Sahwa [Archives:2008/1192/Press Review]

Thursday, Sept. 17, 2008
Top Stories

– YJS condemns authorities denying IFJ's access to jail to award Al-Khaiwani

– JMP ends a week-long tribal siege in Al-Jawf governorate

– Al-Qarni attributes his release to what he described “sincere JMP's efforts”

Popular comedian Fahd Al-Qarni was freed on Tuesday from a Taiz security prison, the same prison he was returned to on Saturday, after he refused to sign a pledge not practice political activities once again, the website reported.

The website's reporter, based in Taiz, said that a huge popular rally has been warmly waiting for Al-Qarni at the prison's gate and then accompanied the released popular comedian to the Islah Party's office in Taiz city. Following his arrival to the Islah Party's office, Al-Qarni expressed that he is ready to undertake any hard tasks to be delegated to him by the Islah Party.

In a statement to Al-Sahwa.net in the wake of his release, Al-Qarni expressed his deep gratitude to all those who backed him along with other jailed colleagues. He attributed his release to what he described as “hard and sincere efforts expended by Joint Meeting Parties (JMP)”. He also urged human rights activists to exert precious efforts to free other detainees, mainly Abdulkarim Al-Khaiwani.

“I decisively refused to abandon one of my political rights guaranteed by the state-constitution