RIYADH, Aug 20: The families of three Saudi reformists currently on trial in the kingdom for demanding constitutional reforms have accused the local human rights group of failing to help them.

The group, National Human Rights Association (NHRA), was formed earlier this year to oversee the status of human rights in the kingdom. The members were nominated from various spheres of life.

The relatives of Matruk al-Faleh, Abdullah al-Hamed and Ali al-Demaini said the NHRA was claiming a role in the trial it had not played.

In a statement they accused the National Human Rights Association of unfairly claiming credit for the appointment of lawyers and for the unprecedented opening of the trial to the public.