On 10/13/2014, the Saudi authorities arrested (Sayyid Mofeed Mahfouz Al Alawi. 8/12/1984), where he received a call from someone who claimed his desire to buy medical products from Sayyid Al Alawi’s company. As a result, he agreed to meet on the same day, and upon arrival to the specified location, Sayyid Al Alawi’s car was surrounded and arms were pointed at him. After that he was placed in one of the General Investigation Directorate’s cars, then they went with him to his house where they searched his room, and then brought him to an unknown location. When Sayyid Al Alawi’s family asked the Investigation Directorate about him, they denied having him, but after the family’s insistence on knowing his place and after a full day they finally admit having him in the General Investigation Directorate’s prison.
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR) is concerned over the continued arbitrary arrests in Saudi Arabia, which has escalated since 2011 to include human rights defenders; bloggers; writers; clerics; women; children and others. Considering the eastern region alone, there are more than 1,100 detainees, where nearly 400 of them are still under arrest. Since 2015, the ESOHR has documented more than 15 cases of arbitrary arrest, yet, ESOHR belief that there are many undocumented cases due to the low-profile practiced by the Saudi government. Also, due to the direct or indirect terror practiced by agencies such as the General Investigation Directorate and the police, some families are committed to remain silent about the abuse of their relatives.
It has been more than four months since the arrest of Sayyid Al Alawi, where he is detained at the General Investigation Directorate’s prison in Dammam. His arrest causes are still unknown and family visit is disallowed until the writing of this report.
Based on this information, ESOHR considers that Sayyid Al Alawi was arbitrarily detained and that the Saudi government should immediately release him since such an action violates the local laws as well as international laws. The Saudi Criminal Procedure Article 119 states (In all cases, the Investigator shall order that the accused may not communicate with any other prisoner or detainee, and that he not be visited by anyone for a period not exceeding sixty days if the interest of the investigation so requires, without prejudice to the right of the accused to communicate with his representative or attorney). Sayyid Al Alawi’s duration has exceeded the stated time in the law twice, additionally, he was not allowed to communicate with a representative or a lawyer.
We in the ESOHR believe that the reason for the continuation of arbitrary arrests, which has doubled since 2011, is the peaceful activities in Saudi Arabia. These activities are calling for certain rights, such as:
– Carry out political reforms.
– Abolition of sectarian discrimination.
-Launching Freedoms.
– The release of political prisoners, where some are sentenced up to 19-year prison with no charges nor trial.
The Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that: (No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.), and thus, we in ESOHR call the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the following:
1. The immediate release of the arbitrarily detained Sayyid Al Alawi.
2. The release of arbitrary detainees as human rights defenders; political opponents; journalists and others who is detention violate international law.
3. The ratification of the International Convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance.
4. Stop all forms of arbitrary detentions, which lead to many other violations against the victims, such as forced confession; unfair trial and sentences.