Norway has criticized Saudi Arabia's ongoing human rights violations as part of the 48th session of the Human Rights Council, which runs from September 13 to October 8, 2021.
The Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations Office at Geneva Ms. Tina Smith called on Saudi Arabia to respect all human rights. Under the discussion of the fourth item of the Human Rights Council at its 48th session (27 September 2021), Norway called on Saudi Arabia to protect human rights defenders. It also stressed the importance of taking steps to ensure the independence of the judiciary.
Ms. Smith noted that the right to freedom of opinion, expression and access to information is a fundamental right for all individuals, expressing her country's concern of some countries use of modern techniques to pursue those who expresses their opinions.
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights has documented an increase in Saudi Arabia's violations against human rights defenders, most of whom are in prisons. The government imposes severe restrictions that prevent those outsides from carrying out their activities. Lack of judicial independence also contributes in reprisal and arbitrary rulings.
With regard to the use of modern technology, reports have confirmed the Saudi government's involvement in using modern programs to track and spy on activists, including those used to target the journalist Jamal Khashoggi before he was killed at his country's consulate in Istanbul. UN special rapporteurs also pointed out that Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman is responsible for the use of piracy techniques against the Washington Post owner, Jeffrey Bezos, in order to target him.