Saudi Arabia - Latest Publications

KSA - News

Saudi Arabia: Court of Appeal Upholds Sentence of 2 Years Imprisonment and 200 Lashes against Activist for Tweet Advocating for Peace and Tolerance between Shia/Sunni Communities

KSA - News | 02 December 2015

On 6 November 2014, human rights defender and writer Mikhlif Al Shammari was sentenced to two years imprisonment and 200 lashes after a single hearing for a tweet stating that he had faith in tolerance between Sunni and Shia and announcing that he will pray for that in a Shia mosque as a sign of solidarity, being himself Sunni. Accused of "stirring up public opinion," Al Shammari's sentence was upheld by the Al Dammam Court of Appeal on 2 November 2015 and his sentence is now enforceable at any time, meaning that the human rights advocate is at risk of arbitrary detention and lashes at any time. In view of the facts and of Al Shammari's impossibility to obtain a fair hearing in his country, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression (SR Freedex) requesting him to urge the Saudi authorities to repeal the sentence and abandon all charges against Al Shammari.

Saudi Arabia: Sudanese Founder of Online Oppositional News Site Faces Torture and Execution in Home Country if Sent Back Home

KSA - News | 08 September 2015

On 8 September, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) regarding the case of Waleed Al Dod Al Mekki Al Hussain, a Sudanese national who has been deprived of his fundamental rights since his arrest by the Saudi General Intelligence forces on 23 July 2015. His family suspects that Al Hussain was arrested because of his activity as founder and editor of the Sudanese government critical online news site Al Rakoba and fears that he will be extradited or expelled to Sudan where he would face further persecution, torture and execution after an unfair trial.

Saudi Arabia: 72 Issues to Raise During State's Review by the Committee Against Torture

KSA - News | 14 August 2015

On 27 July 2015, Alkarama provided the United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT) – a body of 10 independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) by its State parties – with a list of 72 issues to be raised by the UN experts with the Saudi authorities during their consideration of Saudi Arabia's second review, which will take place during the CAT's 57th session in 2016. In its submission, Alkarama recalled that Saudi Arabia is a monarchy without a formal Constitution or a criminal code. All State powers are concentrated in the executive, especially in the King. Alkarama is particularly concerned with the numerous cases of torture that it continues to receive, especially in view of the overly repressive and broad counter-terrorism law adopted in January 2014, which has increased the practice of extracting confessions under torture in national security related cases.

Saudi Arabia: Raif Badawi's Flogging Not Carried Out Today but Blogger's Flogging May Resume Any Time and 10-Year Prison Sentence Confirmed

KSA - News | 12 June 2015

On 12 June 2015, Raif Badawi's 1,000 lashes corporal punishment was not carried out, officially for medical reasons, but it could resume at any moment every Friday. The blogger and human rights defender is still arbitrarily detained, a situation that could last for up to 10 years, since his prison sentence was also confirmed by the Supreme Court of Riyadh on 7 June 2015.

Saudi Arabia: Alkarama Seizes UN Regarding Al Shabili's Prosecution by Specialised Criminal Court

KSA - News | 08 May 2015

Alkarama sent a second urgent appeal to the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) concerning the upcoming hearing of Mr Abdulaziz Al Shabili, a Saudi Human Rights Defender (HRD) awaiting prosecution by the Specialised Court on Terrorism and facing over 10 years in arbitrary detention for "incitement to demonstrate" and "insulting Saudi authorities by describing them as a police State which violates human rights." This case underscores the worsening restrictions on freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia and the conditions under which human rights associations in the country are operating.

Saudi Arabia - HR Instruments

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

No

Convention against Torture (CAT)

CAT: Accessed on 23.09.1997
Optional Protocol: No
Art. 20 (Confidential inquiry): No
Art. 22 (Individual communications): No

State report: Overdue since 22.10.2006 (2nd)
Last concluding observations: 12.06.2002

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

No

Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Last review: 10.2013 (2nd cycle)
Next review: -

National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)

No