Saudi blogger Fuad al-Farhan has been released from jail, according to Saudi Jeans (Fouad Released) and The Australian newspaper.

As is rather typical, no comment from government sources…

Reader ‘Saudi in the US’ provides this link to a CNN interview with Ahmed Al-Omran (‘Saudi Jeans’), complete with a link to the video.

And here’s Arab News‘s take on the story: Saudi Blogger Farhan Freed From Prison

Here’s The Washington Post‘s Saudi correspondent’s report: Saudi Activist Blogger Freed After 4 Months in Jail Without Charge.

New stories will be posted as new, not updates.

Blogger freed after months in jail

A SAUDI blogger detained without charge for more than four months after expressing pro-reform opinions has been released, a colleague says.
Fouad Farhan was detained in early December after running an online campaign over 10 men arrested since February 2007 on suspicion of financing militant groups, but whose supporters say they are being punished for pro-democracy activity.

“I received a mobile phone message from his wife at 5.30 this morning saying he was released,” said Ahmed al-Omran, who published the news on his website (www.saudijeans.org).

“It was surprising. After blocking his website, I thought his detention would go on longer. It’s good news.”

Saudi authorities blocked Farhan’s website (www.alfarhan.org) earlier this month.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said he would not confirm Farhan’s release. The ministry had declined to say on what charges he was arrested, but said it was not security related.

Saud Arabia, a key US ally, has no political parties or elected parliament, and many web forums calling for reforms have been blocked by the government.

An Islamist preacher was detained for nearly two weeks in 2006 for an Internet article that criticised government ministers.