Abdul Rahman b. Abdelaziz Al Sudais, 47 years old (born 1961), is married and a professor at the University of Umm Al Qura in Mecca. He was arrested on 16 May 2003 by security agents who came to his home in Jeddah without an arrest warrant or search warrant. He was taken to an unknown destination. Thereafter, it became apparent that he had been imprisoned in the Interior Ministry’s detention centre in Jeddah.
His family was only able to obtain confirmation and learn he had suffered abuse following his arrest after several weeks of concern. They were not allowed to visit him for several weeks nor to instruct a lawyer to assist him despite repeated requests.
The Saudi authorities have said, in response to questions from the Working Group, that Mr Al Sudais was arrested with members of his cell in the Mecca region in a case concerning terrorism. He had been allowed to seek counsel and to receive visits from his family.
According to the statement by the Saudi government, he was first sentenced to 10 years in prison and then a second time to 30 years in prison for possession of weapons. The trials were independent and fair.
Alkarama confirmed vis-à-vis the Working Group that Mr Al Sudais was sentenced to 10 and 30 years imprisonment but that the two trials had taken place behind closed doors in the judge’s office without Mr Al Sudais being able to learn of the charges against him and accordingly prepare his defence, as well as not being allowed to appoint a lawyer.
Alkarama notably insisted on the fact that Mr Al-Sudais had been arbitrarily arrested, held incommunicado for several weeks, mistreated and detained without charge being communicated to him for several years. The date of presentation before the judge was not mentioned by the government. Additionally, the person in question was tried in two separate trials for the same acts, in violation of the principle ne bis in idem.
The Working Group noted that "the government's silence about the long duration of four years of detention by the security services, without charges, and his secret detention without charge is neither fair nor reasonable."
It noted that the charges against Mr Al Sudais, which led to the sentencing of 10 years in prison were not mentioned by the government, confirming the fact that the person in question was not informed of the charges against him, and was therefore unable to defend himself.
The UN body concluded that Articles 9 (arbitrary arrest, detention and exile) and 10 of the Declaration of Human Rights (right to a fair trial) had been violated.
Accordingly, the Working Group recommends that the Saudi government does everything possible to remedy this situation and ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.