Mr. Al-Rashoudi was born in 1935 and lived in Riyadh. He is known as a human rights lawyer and activist who is engaged in the defense of prisoners of opinion in Saudi Arabia. He was arrested by intelligence services (Mabahith) during a meeting of eight other people involved in the movement to reform the constitution.

A communiqué from General Mansur al Turki, a spokesman for the Minitry of the Interior, indicated that the reason for the arrest was the "support and financing of terrorism" as well as "illicit activities related to the illegal collection of funds and the diversion of funds to suspicious parties."

Mr. Al-Rashoudi has constantly assured the promotion of justice and the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms. He regularly denounced unfair trials and detentions without due process. In particular he supported the defence of members of the reform movement and during 2005 he participated in the international campaign to free Dr. Matrouk Al-Faleh and Mr. Abdellah Hamed and Ali Al-Damini. These three men were prisoners of opinion who today are free in part thanks to his efforts.

Alkarama seized the Working group on Arbitary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Expression, the Special Rapporteur on Torture, and the Special Rapporteur for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Fight Against Terrorism on 14 February 2007 of the arrest and secret detention of Mr. Al-Rashoudi and the eight others arrested at the same time. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention stated in its opinion 27/2007 dated 28 November 2007 that their detention constitutes a grave violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They have yet to be released.