At the Human Rights Council, Sweden criticized the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s practices that violate human rights.
In a statement delivered by Ms. Veronika Bard under Item 4 of the HRC’s 43rd session, Sweden stated that Saudi Arabia’s restriction of civil society is concerning.
The statement condemned the use by Saudi Arabia and other countries of counterterrorism laws to prosecute male and female human rights advocates.
ESOHR has previously shared a legal analysis showing that the counterterrorism law dropped any remaining respect for human rights and failed to adhere to international standards. Moreover, Ben Emmerson, the former Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, stated in his report following his visit to Saudi Arabia that the Saudi government prosecutes human rights advocates and issues death sentences against activists using the terrorism law, and he called on it to review these sentences.