Artists Create Poetry Qatar Jailed for Life

DOHA - Qatar An artist was sentenced to life imprisonment for accused makes a poem that contains an insult to the Gulf State rulers, the Emir of Qatar. Lawyers from the artist says it alters an appeal against the court's decision.

Muhammad al-Ajami makes a poem inspired by the Arab Spring that began in Tunisia. In a poem entitled "Jasmine Tunisia" that al-Ajami said the country was led by a ruler who likes to do the repressive measures against its citizens.

8"This court is not in accordance with procedures, the judges of the court to close the public. My client is not allowed to defend himself in court, even I was also not given the opportunity to provide a defense, "said the lawyer al-Ajami, Najib al-Nuaimi, told The Associated Press on Friday (11/30/2012).

Al-Nuaimi said during detained al-Ajami put in a separate cell with other prisoners. In addition to the authorities charged with contempt, al Ajami is also accused of trying to topple Qatar's ruler. Treason can make al-Ajami received the death penalty charges.

The indictment shows a lifetime of excessive law enforcement practices commonly performed by the rulers of the Gulf states to suppress the protests that occurred in the country. Four people were arrested in Kuwait for insulting the country's rulers networking site Twitter.

Meanwhile, authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has just passed legislation that gives authority to menangakap citizens protest on the internet. These include contempt action against the authorities and action calls for street protests.

Source: http://international.okezone.com/read/2012/11/30/412/725504/