The high Commissioner of Human Rights was alarmed by the Saudi detention of a number of human rights activists and defenders who work in women’s rights cases, during the past two weeks.
In a press statement was issued in May 29th , the spokeswomen of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Liz Terosel, said that since May 15th 2018 at least 13 activists most of them women, have been arrested while 3 of them were released later. The statement said it was puzzling that men and women involved in campaigns aimed at positive developments in women’s rights were targeted, especially among the steps taken by the government in recent months to ease restrictions on women’s activities.
The High Commissioner cleared that according to the Saudi media reports the allegations against the six women who are still in detention and the three men are dangerous as they might lead to harsh sentences. It also noted that the place of the detainees is still unknown. Also, It has been said that most of them were allowed to make one phone call since their arrest except one female detainee who is still isolated completely from the outside world. The High Commissioner urged the Saudi authorities to disclose the place of the female and male detainees and to ensure their rights among the due legal process, including the right to legal representation, the right of knowing the reason of detention and the charges they face, in addition to the right to family access and the right to legal challenge before a specialized court, independent and impartial trial within a reasonable period of time if they were charged with a crime.
Furthermore, the statement stressed that in case their detention, as it seems, is linked only to their work as women and human rights defenders, they should be released immediately. The High Commissioner expressed its concern about the possibility of maltreating them physically and psychological among the absence of the transparency regarding their situation, and reminding the Saudi government of the complete prohibition of torture and maltreatment under the international law.
Moreover, in an interactive dialogue with NGOs in March 2018, High Commissioner for Human Rights Zaid Ben Raad al-Hussein described the relationship with Saudi Arabia as complex and difficult.
ESOHR welcomes the High Commissioner’s statement about the latest series of arrests that are targeting female and male activists and stresses on the importance of the Saudi government to respond to the Commission’s demands and answer its questions regarding the place and the situation of the detainees as a member in the Human Rights Council for the fourth time and under its international obligations.