Algeria
Bahrain
Djibouti
Egypt
Iraq
Palestine/Israel
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Mauritania
Morocco
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia
United Arab Emirates
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Saudi Arabia: “Kingdom of Arbitrary Detention” Campaign Only a First Step
On 12 October 2016, the Alkarama Foundation launched the #KingdomofArbitraryDetention campaign to address arbitrary detention and the prosecution of human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia. On this occasion, Alkarama released a report, a short film and a joint open letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as a social media campaign using the hashtags #KingdomofArbitraryDetention and سعودية_دون_الإعتقال_التعسفي#. The campaign, which lasted 11 days, was launched on the seventh anniversary of the establishment of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) and honours the commitment of its 11 human rights defenders – all of whom have been harshly prosecuted for their peaceful human rights activism – by featuring on every day a profile of each member. Ultimately, we hope that by shedding light on this pressing human rights issue, the campaign will propel the Kingdom's human rights record to the global stage , encourage the Saudi authorities to end its use of arbitrary detention and to respect the fundamental rights of human rights defenders.
Morocco: Alkarama Calls on Authorities to Implement UN Decision on Ali Aarrass
On 21 October 2016, Alkarama sent to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) new information about Ali Aarrass, detained since 2008 and sentenced on the sole basis of confessions obtained under torture.
Kuwait: DNA Collection Law to be Amended to Limit its Scope to Criminal Suspects Only
On 19 October 2016, the Speaker of Kuwait's National Assembly, Marzouq Al-Ghanim, disclosed information according to which the Emir of Kuwait agreed to put Law No. 78/2015 on compulsory DNA collection, in line with the Kuwaiti Constitution in order to respect the right to privacy. The Emir requested the Parliament to reconsider the scope of the law with the view of imposing compulsory DNA collection to criminal suspects only, instead of all Kuwaiti citizens and residents as it was initially envisioned. Alkarama welcomes the decision of the Emir, which reflects the recommendations made in its report to the Human Rights Committee (HRCtee) during the third periodic review of the situation of human rights in Kuwait, held on 15 July 2016.
Mauritania: 7 Independent UN Experts Call for IRA Activists Rights
On 19 October 2016, a group of seven United Nations human rights experts* issued a press release to express their "serious concern" about the situation of activists from the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement Initiative (IRA Mauritania) "imprisoned for their alleged role in a demonstration against forced evictions in Nouachkott" and "targeted by the government for their anti-slavery advocacy".
Jordan: University Student Released After 4 Months of Disappearance
On 29 June 2016, Abdulmalik Mohammad Yousef Abdelsalam, 26-year-old Jordanian university student, was released from the premises of the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) in Amman after having been secretly detained for four months, his family being kept unaware of his fate and whereabouts.
Egypt: Man’s Life at Risk Following Denial of Medical Care in Detention
On 19 October 2016, Alkarama referred to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health (SRH) the case of Ali Ahmed Ali Kerata, a 53-year-old employee who was arrested on 19 August 2014 in Damietta by members of the police forces falling under the Egyptian Ministry of Interior. Detained in the central police station of Damietta, Kerata is suffering from life-threatening health issues and is denied access to adequate medical care. His health continues to aggravate and his family fears that his life is at risk should he not be provided with immediate and appropriate medical care.
