 |
Alkarama had earlier submitted an urgent appeal, dated 24 March 2011, to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, asking them to remind the Saudi authorities of their international obligations, as well as the Saudi national legislation, and to call for Mr Al-Bjady's release.
On 6 September 2011, Alkarama addressed a new appeal to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, the UN special rapporteur on torture, and the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, to inform them of the details of Mr Al-Bjady's unfair trial, which took place on 16 August 2011.
Alkarama reminds the Saudi authorities that the authorities have a duty to protect human rights defenders, particularly those who cooperate with UN bodies, for which the UN provides special attention. The UN Human Rights council adopted resolution 12/2 on 1 October 2009 entitled "Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights" in order to effectively protect human rights defenders inside or outside their countries.