Fawzan Mohsen Oud Al-Harbi, acting president of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights (ACPRA) told Alkarama that he was summoned to appear tomorrow 11 May 2013 before the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution in Riyadh. This follows several years of reprisal campaigns launched by the Saudi authorities against human rights defenders, including ACPRA members and the group known as the 'Reformists'.
Iwad Al Hayki, a 33 year-old Yemeni national has been imprisoned in Al Qasim Prison since 18 October 2010, the day he was extradited by Qatar to the Saudi authorities. Detained incommunicado for almost a year in solitary confinement, he has been subjected to severe torture. To date, he has never been charged or tried.
The Saudi authorities should immediately release Mohammad Al Qahtani and Abdullah Al Hamid, two Saudi human rights defenders and co-founders of the Saudi Association for civil and political rights (ACPRA). The two men were sentenced last Saturday to 10 and 11 years in prison on accusations including "breaking allegiance to the King", "disseminating false information through foreign entities" and "forming an unlicensed organization".
Alkarama firmly condemns the execution of the seven detainees at 8 this morning on a public place in Abha by firing squad. In a statement published today, a group of UN independent experts "expressed outrage" at the execution "despite repeated calls to the Saudi authorities not to carry out the sentences by the UN and civil society organisations".
Seven young men, poor and unemployed, robbed jewellery stores in different places at different times, but all ended up in the same jail. This could be the beginning of one of the gangster movies or social-dramas to be rewarded at the Oscars this year. Quite an intriguing setting, if you consider that the story takes place in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. It would have been banal, if it was just a story.
But the seven men have names, voices, faces and fears.
Today, Alkarama submitted its report in view of the Universal Periodic Review of Saudi Arabia, which will take place in October 2013, alongside that of Jordan.
Saudi authorities should release Amer Al-Anzi immediately and provide him with appropriate compensation for his arbitrary detention.
Amer Al-Anzi, 34 year-old Qatari national, currently detained at Dammam Prison, the capital of the Province of Eastern Saudi Arabia, has spent more than 7 years in prison without charge or trial.
The Alkarama Foundation has been informed of the Saudi authorities' decision to release the Yemeni detainee Naser Abdullah Al-Hudaiqi later this January, after 8 years of detention.
On 12 December, senior Saudi human rights lawyer and recently elected President of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights (ACPRA), Suleiman Al Rashoudi, was arrested by Saudi intelligence services for having publicly stated that the right to assembly was protected by international law.
On 11 December 2012, former Saudi judge Suleiman Al Rashoudi held a public meeting in Riyadh during which he asserted that the rights of assembly, association and peaceful protest are legitimate as recognized by international law.
