15 October 2009

Saudi Arabia: Two Lebanese students arrested on their return from Hajj

On 28 January 2007, Alaa Ghazzaoui and Ahmed Rachid were returning to Lebanon from their pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca. While driving in a car with their friend Moheib al-Rachid, they were stopped by Saudi Intelligence services at a checkpoint near the Tabuk border crossing. According to sources, authorities presented a warrant for Moheib al-Rachid's arrest - however, they also took Mr. Ghazzaoui and Mr. Rachid into custody without presenting any legal document. Both have now been detained for over two years.

Alaa Eddine Fawzi Ghazzoui, 28, and Ahmed Rachid, 29, are Lebanese nationals, friends and fellow students at the Islamic University of Medina. Both were studying at the university on grants from the Saudi government. Alaa Ghazzaoui is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheel chair.

After their arrest, they were detained for eight months incommunicado at Tabuk prison. Finally, in August 2007, they were allowed to call their family when they were transferred to Al-Qasim Central Prison. They have not been charged nor have they been presented before a judge at any time during the 34 months since their arrest.

Ahmed Rachid's family wrote to the Saudi Ministry of Interior twice regarding their son's arrest, only to have them deny all knowledge of his imprisonment. However, they later admitted that they were holding him in Al-Qasim Central Prison. Mr. Rachid's family has been particularly affected by his detention as his father is partially paralyzed and both his brother and sister suffer from physical disabilities, making Ahmed the sole bread winner in the family.

On 15 October 2009, Alkarama submitted their cases to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of these cases in order that they be released or brought to justice. They continue to be detained despite there being no legal basis for their continued deprivation of liberty.

Morocco - HR Instruments

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

ICCPR: Ratified on 03.05.1979
Optional Protocol: No

Last State report: Overdue since 07.07.2015
Last concluding observations: 01.12.2004

Convention against Torture (CAT)

CAT: Ratified on 21.06.1993
Optional Protocol: Accessed on 24.11.2014
Art. 20 (Confidential inquiry): Yes
Art. 22 (Individual communications): Yes

Last State report: 30.06.2013
Last concluding observations: 21.12.2011

International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED)

CED: Ratified on 14.05.2013
Art. 33 (Inquiry procedure): Yes

State report: Overdue since 14.06.2015
Last concluding observations: N/A

Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Last review: 05.2012 (2nd cycle)
Next review: -

National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)

Conseil National des Droits de l'Homme (CNDH) – Status A

Last review: 10.2010
Next review: 11.2015