Advocacy
Saudi Arabia: Microsoft should suspend data center plans
May 23, 2023
MENA Rights Group joins 17 organisations in urging Microsoft to suspend its plans to invest in a new cloud data center in Saudi Arabia due to the country's record of human rights violations.
Joint Open Letter to the UNHCR in Lebanon
May 17, 2023
MENA Rights Group joins 30+ organisations in calling on the UNHCR to increase cooperation and transparency with local organisations in order to address the unlawful deportations of Syrian refugees from Lebanon.
Civil society concerned over Saudi Arabia’s attempt to whitewash its human rights record through the World Expo 2030
May 16, 2023
Led by MENA Rights Group, civil society calls on the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to exclude the candidacy of Saudi Arabia as a potential host for World Expo 2030 on account of its grave and internationally documented and recognised appalling human rights record.
Lebanon: Court decision is a blow to freedom of expression and independence of lawyers
May 12, 2023
As part of the Coalition to Defend Freedom of Expression in Lebanon, MENA Rights Group condemned the Beirut Bar Association's amendment of the code of ethics, which will now require lawyers to obtain prior permission from the President of the BBA before engaging in any public or media appearances or discussing legal issues on social media, and bans lawyers from criticising the President of the BBA and its council members.
Lebanon: Halt summary deportations of Syrian refugees
May 11, 2023
MENA Rights Group joins 19 organisations in calling on Lebanese authorities to halt the deportation of Syrian refugees.
Joint statement: States must take immediate action to stop spyware threatening press freedom
May 03, 2023
Marking World Press Freedom Day, over 70 journalists, independent experts, and civil society organizations are demanding a complete ban on commercial spyware technology that has been used to facilitate human rights abuses, and its vendors.
Egypt: detained academic at risk of death, Salah Soltan should be immediately released and offered treatment
May 03, 2023
MENA Rights Group joins 50 human rights organisations in calling for the release of Salah Soltan. The Egyptian academic is held in arbitrary detention, and faces serious medical neglect which may lead to his death.
World Press Freedom Day 2023: the MENA’s worsening media landscape
May 03, 2023
In honour of World Press Freedom Day, MENA Rights Group breaks down the region's increasingly repressive media landscape and calls on governments to respect and uphold press freedom and freedom of expression.
Joint statement: UAE human rights record ahead of COP28
May 01, 2023
As part of the SANID campaign, MENA Rights Group was joined by 40+ rights organisations in calling on the UAE to end its assault on human rights and freedoms. Ahead of the COP28 in November 2023, we remain deeply concerned over the UAE's attempt to whitewash its human rights record.
Sudan: Urgently convene a special session of the Human Rights Council and establish an investigative mechanism
April 27, 2023
MENA Rights Group joined 90+ organisations in urging Member States of the UN Human Rights Council to convene a special session and establish an investigative mechanism to address the human rights crisis and conflict in Sudan.
Saudi authorities must release human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani and other ACPRA members who are arbitrarily detained
April 24, 2023
We, the undersigned human rights organisations, call on Saudi authorities to reveal the health condition of and immediately and unconditionally release prominent Saudi human rights defender and co-founder of the now dissolved Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA)*, Dr. Mohammed al-Qahtani, who has been detained incommunicado for six months. We also call for the immediate and unconditional release of four ACPRA members who remain in arbitrary detention.
Global legal and rule of law community stands in solidarity with Lebanese lawyer Nizar Saghieh
April 20, 2023
MENA Rights Group joins 30+ organisations in expressing solidarity with Lebanese lawyer Nizar Saghieh who was subjected to reprisal by the Beirut Bar Association for his exercise of freedom of expression.