The Umma Islamic Party is a political party in Saudi Arabia that was formed on 10 February 2011 in response to the Arab Spring. Formed by a collective of opposition members including Islamists and intellectuals, the party is pro-reform and demands representation and an end to absolute monarchy in the country. The party is run by a ten-member coordination committee and requested official recognition from the government as an official party. On 18 February, most of the party co-founders were arrested by Saudi authorities. All except for Sheikh Abd al-ʽAziz al-Wuhaibi were released later in 2011, subject to travel and teaching bans, after agreeing in writing not to carry out "anti-government activity".
Creation in 2011
The Umma Islamic Party was created on 9 February 2011 by an 11-member coordination committee of Islamists and intellectuals including Dr Abdullah Alsalim, Dr. Ahmad bin Sa'd al-Ghamidi, Sheikh Abd al-ʽAziz al-Wuhaibi and Sheikh Muhammad bin Husain al-Qahtani. The party is pro-reform and demands representation and an end to absolute monarchy in the country. The party requested official recognition from the government as an official party.
2011 detentions
Al-Ghamidi, al-Dughaithir, al-Wuhaibi, al-Qahtani, and al-Ghamidi, al-Majid and al-Khadhar were detained on 17 February 2011. Human Rights Watch stated that they " to have been detained solely for trying to create a party whose professed aims included greater democracy and protection for human rights." Prior to his own arrest, al-Khadhar stated that his colleagues were apparently held in the Mabahith's ʽUlaysha Prison. The detained party co-founders were told that they would be released only if they signed a pledge to stop advocating for political reform, which they initially refused. All except for al-Wuhaibi were conditionally released during 2011 after signing declarations that they would not carry out "anti-government activity". The release conditions included travel bans and teaching bans.
