The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia denied its violations against human rights defenders. A member of the official delegation to Geneva, Muhannad al-Basrawi, rejected what he considered to be “the use of preferential terminologies and expressions” in reference to the description of the work of human rights defenders, stressing that “no one can be criminalized and punished except for committing acts that are criminalized by specific legal and statutory texts.”
During the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders Mary Lawlor on 5 March 2021 within the framework of the 46th session of the Human Rights Council, al-Basrawi stated that the Saudi government promotes freedom of opinion and expression.
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR) affirms that Saudi Arabia’s allegations are unrealistic, as it exercises systematic and severe repression against men and women human rights defenders and pursues them for their work and activities. Also, it applies laws that violate human rights norms against them, such as the anti-terrorism system and the Anti-Cyber Crime Law.
The report of the Special Rapporteur showed that eight complaints were sent to Saudi Arabia related to violations committed by the Kingdom with regard to the rights of human rights defenders in 2020. The report indicated that among the complaints were several related to the use of the anti-terrorism law to criminalize the defenders, as well as the arrest and trial of some of them for their activities.
Saudi Arabia systematically commits violations against men and women human rights defenders. In addition to intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and unfair trials, Saudi Arabia uses ill treatment and torture against defenders which has led to death, prevents them from traveling and appearing appearing in the media, and from using the social media.