RIYADH, May 15: Three prominent Saudi reformists have been sentenced to jail terms ranging from six to nine years. A Saudi court announced the sentences on Sunday, according to lawyers and relatives. The three academics were arrested in March 2004, along with nine others, after they had signed a petition urging the king to move towards a constitutional monarchy and speed up political reforms. Others were released after they signed a document not to sign any such petition in future. However, the three had refused and were sent before a judicial court for trial.

The court sentenced Ali Al-Dumaini to nine years in jail, Abdullah Al-Hamed to seven years and Matruk Al-Faleh to six years, lawyers said. The three had also refused to defend themselves in closed hearings and instead insisted on an open hearing, which the judges refused in order to maintain order in the courtroom.

The three academics faced charges of causing instability, collecting signatures for a petition and exploiting Saudi Arabia’s battle with Al Qaeda militants for political gain.