10 April 2012

Saudi Arabia : ACPRA holds the Saudi authorities responsible for the deteriorating health of the rights activist Mr Salih Al-Bjady

The Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) issued a press release stating it holds the Saudi authorities responsible for the deteriorating health of the rights activist Mr Mohammad Salih Al-Bjady who is on a hunger strike since 11 March 2012, and has refused to drink water since Saturday 7 April 2012, in protest against his arrest, detention, and the deprivation of all his political and civil rights.

Alkarama had earlier submitted an urgent appeal, dated 24 March 2011, to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, asking them to remind the Saudi authorities of their international obligations, as well as the Saudi national legislation, and to call for Mr Al-Bjady's release.

On 6 September 2011, Alkarama addressed a new appeal to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, the UN special rapporteur on torture, and the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, to inform them of the details of Mr Al-Bjady's unfair trial, which took place on 16 August 2011.

Alkarama reminds the Saudi authorities that the authorities have a duty to protect human rights defenders, particularly those who cooperate with UN bodies, for which the UN provides special attention. The UN Human Rights council adopted resolution 12/2 on 1 October 2009 entitled "Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights" in order to effectively protect human rights defenders inside or outside their countries.

Alkarama joins ACPRA in holding the Saudi authorities responsible for the deteriorating health of Mr Al-Bjady, and in demanding his release, and the release of all those that were arrested arbitrarily. Alkarama calls on the Saudi authorities to allow political and civil freedoms, and the right for free expression, which can no longer be bypassed or ignored, especially in view of the changes in many countries in the region which had been ruled by authoritarian regimes who denied their people the rights to live in freedom and dignity.

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