A former mass communications professor , Said bin Zair was held without charge for eight years for demanding reforms in the Saudi monarchy . Released in 2003 , he appeared on al-Jazeera on 15 April 2004 , and made remarks about the Riyadh compound bombings which resulted in his re-arrest on charges of condoning suicide bombings . His son Mubarak was reportedly arrested a few weeks later for protesting his father 's detention . In September 2004 Said bin Zair was sentenced , in the absence of a lawyer , to five years of jail
Riyadh compound bombings
Riyadh compound bombings
Said bin Zair