Articles for Saudi Arabia

Saudi citizen arbitrarily detained for criticizing ‘Vision 2030’

Saudi citizen arbitrarily detained for criticizing ‘Vision 2030’

On February 7, 2020, Hezam Al Ahmari filmed and shared a video on WhatsApp, which was later shared on TikTok, in which he criticised the presence of a nightclub in his neighbourhood, in such close proximity to a mosque. In the video, Al Ahmari can be heard describing the presence of the nightclub in his neighbourhood as the “price for ‘Vision 2030,’” a reform plan for the country initiated by the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.  

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Women's right activist Loujain Al Hathloul conditionally released and facing a travel ban

Women's right activist Loujain Al Hathloul conditionally released and facing a travel ban

Loujain Al Hathloul is a prominent Saudi human rights defender who campaigned against the driving ban and the male guardianship system. On February 27, 2018, Al Hathloul attended the session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), during its consideration of Saudi Arabia, in Geneva.

In March 2018, after returning to her place of residence in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Al Hathloul was arrested by Emirati authorities and taken to Riyadh by Saudi authorities for interrogation. After three days she was released and a travel ban was imposed.

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Abdul Rahim Al Huwaiti, executed by Saudi special forces for protesting forced eviction

Abdul Rahim Al Huwaiti, executed by Saudi special forces for protesting forced eviction

In April 2017, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) acquired title to an area of land by the Red Sea. The land assigned to this project included Al Khuraiba village. At this time, property transactions stopped and rumours circulated of possible evictions. A group of residents queried the changes and rumours with the Tabuk Emirate, the regional authority,but were told that the rumours were unfounded, and that the suspension of land transfers was a precautionary measure in the best interests of the public.

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ACPRA co-founder Abdullah Al Hamid dies in detention following denial of medical care

ACPRA co-founder Abdullah Al Hamid dies in detention following denial of medical care

Dr Abdullah Al Hamid was a 69-year-old human rights defender, writer and founding member of ACPRA*, who was repeatedly subjected to acts of reprisals for his human rights work since 1993.

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Saudi Islamic scholar Awad Al Qarni at risk of execution

Saudi Islamic scholar Awad Al Qarni at risk of execution

Awad bin Mohammed Al Qarni is a Saudi Islamic scholar and former university professor who has also been a vocal critic of Saudi Arabia's wave of arrests and travel bans imposed on intellectuals in 2012. He has a following of over 2.1 million subscribers on Twitter.

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Saudi Islamic scholar Salman al-Odah at risk of execution

Saudi Islamic scholar Salman al-Odah at risk of execution

Salman Fahad al-Odah is a Saudi Islamic scholar and prominent media figure, with over 14 million followers on Twitter. On September 9, 2017, Al Odah published a tweet calling for reconciliation between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, following the commencement of the Gulf diplomatic crisis. The following day, Al Odah was arrested and disappeared by national intelligence services where, it is believed, no arrest warrant was ever presented. For over three months, Al Odah experienced severe mistreatment including sleep deprivation, repeat interrogation, and the withholding of necessary medication.

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Saudi Islamic scholar Dr. Al Omari at risk of execution

Saudi Islamic scholar Dr. Al Omari at risk of execution

Dr. Ali Hamza Al Omari is a Saudi Islamic scholar and founder of a TV channel which promotes moderate religious values and addresses historical, social and political issues. Additionally, Al Omari is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars which, for geo-political reasons, was added to Saudi Arabia’s list of terrorist entities two months after his arrest.

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Saudi Islamic scholar Dr. Al Malki at risk of execution

Saudi Islamic scholar Dr. Al Malki at risk of execution

Dr. Hasan Farhan Hasan Al Zaghli Al Khaledi Al Malki is a Saudi Islamic scholar and public intellectual who is known for his tolerant and moderate religious views, as well as his rejection of takfir ideology and sectarianism and criticisms of the Salafi Wahhabi school of thought.

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Saudi lawyer Waleed Abu Al Khair arbitrarily detained since April 2014

Saudi lawyer Waleed Abu Al Khair arbitrarily detained since April 2014

Waleed Abu AlKhair is the founder of Monitor for Human Rights, which he established in 2008 as one of only a few human rights organisations in Saudi Arabia. In late 2011, Abu AlKhair first faced trial after signing a statement criticising the authorities’ persecution of 16 reformists.

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Saudi activist Mohamed Al Bajadi detained without charge since 2018

Saudi activist Mohamed Al Bajadi detained without charge since 2018

Mohamed Al Bajadi is a Saudi human rights defender and co-founder of ACPRA*. On March 21, 2011, Al Bajadi was arrested in Buraydah by members of the Ministry of Interior's Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution (BIP). The day before, he attended a protest in front of the Ministry of Interior in Riyadh.

Al Bajadi’s trial began in August 2011. His trial was held in secret as neither the charges nor the sentence were made public. Furthermore, his lawyers were denied access to him and informed that their right to represent him had not been recognised by the court.

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