Advocacy / Saudi Arabia
UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention calls for immediate release of two Saudi Shi’a protestors currently on death row
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an Opinion qualifying the detention of Saudi protestors Mohammad Labbad and Mohammad Abdullah al-Faraj as arbitrary and in violation of international human rights standards.
UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention condemns executions of Egyptian nationals for drug-related crimes in Saudi Arabia
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an Opinion finding that the detention and death sentences of three Egyptian nationals by Saudi authorities for drug-related crimes was arbitrary and that their subsequent executions amounted to an arbitrary deprivation of life.
NGOs condemn recent UN agreement with Saudi State Security Head implicated in Khashoggi murder
MENA Rights Group and ALQST for Human Rights address an open letter to Mr. Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism and Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), expressing human rights concerns on the UN office's new agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Presidency of State Security (PSS).
Joint NGO statement: Saudi Arabia must halt all executions and uphold commitments on child defendants and drug offenders
MENA Rights Group joins over 50 NGOs in calling on Saudi Arabia to immediately halt all executions and uphold its commitments to end the death penalty for child defendants and drug offenders following the alarming execution of 300 people in 2025.
US: Prioritize rights during Saudi leader’s visit
MENA Rights Group joins 10 NGOs in calling on the United States of America to address Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses during the Crown Prince's visit to Washington on November 18.
Joint appeal for international protection for Saudi human rights defender detained in Bulgaria for over four years
MENA Rights Group joins 20 NGOs in calling for the release of Saudi human rights defender Abdulrahman al-Khalidi detained in Bulgaria since 2021.
Open letter to UN counter-terrorism chief on problematic relationship with Saudi authorities
MENA Rights Group and ALQST for Human Rights address an open letter to Mr. Alexandre Zouev, newly appointed Acting Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), expressing human rights concerns on the UN office's relationship with Saudi authorities and its Presidency of State Security (PSS).
NGOs condemn escalating use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia
MENA Rights Group joins 35 NGOs in condemning Saudi Arabia's record-breaking execution rate and calling on the authorities to implement an immediate moratorium on all executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.
UN Secretary-General’s 2025 report highlights reprisals against human rights defenders in the MENA
MENA Rights Group provides a summary of the UNSG's main concerns over reprisals against human rights defenders in the MENA region, particularly in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen.
CSOs express concern about continued arbitrary detention in Saudi Arabia
On September 17, 2025, MENA Rights Group, the Gulf Center for Human Rights and ALQST for Human Rights delivered a joint oral statement at the 60th session of the Human Rights Council, during the interactive dialogue with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, highlighting the continued use of arbitrary detention by Saudi Arabia and the lack of implementation of all Opinions addressed to the Kingdom since 2016.