Saudi Arabia: Lakhdar Meshabi in illegal detention since 10 months

Lakhdar Mesbahi, a 24 year-old Algerian national from El-Oued in Algeria, was arrested on 20 July 2009 at a police station in Medina, Saudi Arabia while trying to get authorization to leave the country. He was detained incommunicado for four months and later transferred to Dammam prison, where he remains unto to this day. Lakhdar Mesbahi came to Saudi Arabia in October 2008 on a pilgrammage to Mecca.

Consequent to his illegal detention and a total lack of judicial proceedings regarding his case, Alkarama sent his case to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) on 26 May 2010. The submission requests the WGAD's intervention with the Saudi authorities in order that Lakhdar Mesbahi be placed under the protection of the law.

Lakhdar Meshabi's family have have contacted the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs which has in turn formally contacted the Algerian consulate in Jeddah. His family were informed that he is detained at Dammam prison and that he is accused of having illegally stayed inside Saudi Arabia.

During the last 10 months, Lakhdar Mesbahi was never been presented before a judge to be formally charged, nor had access to a lawyer. He has consequently never been unable to challenge the lawfulness of his detention.

Lakhdar Mesbahi arbitrary detention is in violation of both domestic legislation in Saudi Arabia and namely those included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ratified the Convention against Torture on 23 September 1997, while it is also a currently a member of the Human Rights Council (2009-2012).