Saudi Arabia: Prominent human rights activist 'dies in jail' Published duration 24 April

image copyright Getty Images image caption Saudi Arabia has been strongly criticised for its human rights record

A leading Saudi human rights campaigner jailed since 2013 for dissident activity has died in prison, activists say.

Abdullah al-Hamid, a founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, had been in a coma after suffering a stroke.

Human rights groups had long called for his release.

Saudi Arabia, widely criticised for its intolerance of dissent, has not commented on the reports.

Dr al-Hamid, 69, and another activist, Mohammed al-Qahtani, were convicted at the same time and sentenced to 10 and 11 years respectively.

The men had been found guilty of a raft of offences, including "inciting disorder".

Fellow Saudi activists have accused the Saudi authorities of not giving Dr al-Hamid adequate medical treatment since he fell ill two weeks ago.

British-based Saudi academic, Madawi al-Rasheed - who is an outspoken critic of the current Saudi leadership - has described Dr al-Hamid as a symbol of the struggle for human rights.

The Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association was shut down after its co-founders were convicted.