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KSA - News

Saudi Arabia: Communications Cut between Yemeni Prisoners and their Families

KSA - News | 29 May 2013
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Alkarama has received information from the families of Yemeni prisoners in Saudi Arabian prisons communications with their loved ones detained in Saudi Arabia has been cut for about a month for reasons that remain unclear.

KSA : Yemeni Detainee Tortured in Saudi Prison after Extradition by Qatar

KSA - News | 14 March 2013
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. Both his rendition by Qatar and torture at the hands of Saudi Arabia are serious breaches of the UN Convention against Torture, to which the two states are parties.

KSA : Two prominent human rights defenders sentenced to 10 and 11 years in prison after unfair trial

KSA - News | 12 March 2013
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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". This trial and the ensuing heavy sentence is clearly the result of exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and association.

KSA : Official confirms execution of 7 young Saudi to take place tomorrow

KSA - News | 12 March 2013
Update - 13 March 2013

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". UN Special Rapporteur on extrajducial executions Christof Heynes stated: “I reiterate that any death sentence undertaken in contravention of a State’s international obligations is tantamount to an arbitrary execution, and is unlawful.”

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Alkarama has been informed that a Saudi official has confirmed to the families of the seven detainees in Saudi Arabia who were due to be executed on 5 March 2013, that they will be executed tommorrow, Wednesday 13 March 2013. "If these executions are indeed carried out, they will be tantamount to an extrajudicial execution, as their trials did not respect fundamental fair trial guarantees" stated Rachid Mesli, Director of Alkarama's Legal Department "The Saudi authorities should immediately halt this execution and either release the 7 individuals or give them a fair trial".

Saudi Arabia: Alkarama UPR Report Highlights Repressive Response to Growth of Civil Society

KSA - News | 04 March 2013
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. This review aims to ensure the respect of human rights on the ground in all member States of the United Nations, and is undertaken by the Human Rights Council every four and a half years.

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