The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, alongside ten other organizations, called on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to disclose the location of the human rights defender Mohammed Al-Qahtani's detention and allow him to communicate with his family, as he has been forcibly disappeared for a full year
In a joint statement on October 24, 2023, the organizations explained that Al-Qahtani, an academic and co-founder of the Association for Civil and Political Rights (ACPRA), has been prevented from communicating with the outside world since October 24, 2022. Saudi Arabia continues to refuse to provide clear information about his whereabouts, making him a victim of enforced disappearance. They also highlighted the possibility that individuals subjected to enforced disappearance may face further violations, such as torture.
The statement pointed out that Al-Qahtani has been arbitrarily detained in Al-Ha'ir Prison since 2013 due to his peaceful human rights work and calls for democratic reforms. He completed his ten-year sentence on November 22, 2022.
Saudi Arabia provided misleading information about Al-Qahtani's whereabouts. On October 30, 2022, a prison guard informed his wife that he had been transferred to an undisclosed prison. However, on January 30, 2023, Saudi authorities claimed in their response to the United Nations' communication that he had been detained in Al-Ha'ir Prison. More recently, in August 2023, officials at Al-Ha'ir Prison confirmed to Al-Qahtani's wife in a recorded phone call that they did not find his name in their system.
In the aforementioned response to the United Nations' communication, Saudi Arabia also claimed that Al-Qahtani remains in detention, despite having completed his sentenced term because he was being investigated for "committing several crimes and inciting others to commit them inside the prison." Al-Qahtani was expected to appear before the Specialized Criminal Court for his retrial on May 1, 2023, but the trial was postponed due to his absence. His continued enforced disappearance undermines his right to a fair trial, including the right to legal representation.
Furthermore, the enforced disappearance raises concerns about his health and safety, given that he experienced repeated harassment and ill-treatment during his imprisonment. He also went on hunger strike multiple times in protest, including being held in a cell with inmates experiencing mental health issues, and being attacked by fellow prisoners on two occasions.
The organizations highlighted that this treatment aligns with an increasing trend in which the Saudi authorities expose the lives of prisoners of conscience to danger through severe or deliberate negligence. The death of Abdullah al-Hamid, who co-founded the Hasam Association, in April 2020 due to medical neglect by the Saudi authorities, and the apparent premeditated murder of political reformist Musa al-Qarni in his prison cell in October 2021, are particularly tragic examples of this.
The statement considered the arbitrary detention of al-Qahtani after the expiration of his sentence as another alarming trend affecting prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia. In some cases, the authorities have extended the sentences of prisoners who have already served their prison terms, or even those who are supposed to be released.
The organizations called for the immediate release of al-Qahtani and emphasized the importance of Saudi Arabia ensuring a free and enabling environment for all human rights defenders, allowing them to carry out their legitimate activities without unjustified restrictions or fear of reprisals.
Signing Organizations:
- 1. ACAT-France
- AlQST for Human Rights
- European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR)
- FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
- Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)
- Human Rights First
- Human Rights Foundation
- International Service for Human Rights
- MENA Rights Group
- Right Livelihood
- World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) within the framework of the Observatory for the protection of human rights defenders