The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, together with 14 other organizations, sent a letter to the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule.
The letter, sent on 26 June 2023, attempted to draw the attention of the Special Rapporteur to the grave violations of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Tunisia and Egypt. She urged him to make sure that these countries and their protectors respect this right.
The letter indicated that in Lebanon, security members used excessive force to suppress demonstrators during peaceful demonstrations, and security forces used tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition to disperse demonstrators.
In Tunisia, the authorities also resorted to violence and repression to silence peaceful assemblies, used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators, and arrested and detained demonstrators, including many minors, without due process. Moreover, the government announced a new law that would severely restrict the right to peaceful assembly and expression.
In Egypt, the government has repeatedly cracked down on peaceful demonstrations and assemblies, often resulting in the arrest, detention, and torture of activists and protesters. The authorities have also enacted legislation that severely restricts the right to peaceful assembly and expression.
In Saudi Arabia, participating in peaceful demonstrations and gatherings is a crime. Saudi Arabia prohibits any form of peaceful assembly and continues to issue and carry out the death penalty against individuals facing charges including participation in assemblies and demonstrations that took place years ago.
The Public Prosecution demanded the killing of human rights defender Israa Al-Ghomgham on a set of charges, including participation in demonstrations, to retract later and issue an 11-year prison sentence. In addition, despite the issuance of the Law on Associations and Civil Institutions, it still refuses to license any human rights organization. Rather, the government pursued and arrested individuals who sought to establish associations.
The letter considered these violations of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly unacceptable and called on the Special Rapporteur to monitor these developments and call for full accountability for the related violations. The letter also called for public condemnation of these violations and work to put measures in place to protect a fundamental human right.
Signing Organizations:
ABAAD
Alternative Press Syndicate
Article 19
CIVICUS
Committee for Justice
Egyptian Front for Human Rights
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR)
HuMENA For Human Rights and Civic Engagement
Innovation for Change- MENA Hub
Lebanese Center for Human Rights
LOUDER
Media Association for Peace (MAP)
MENA Rights Group
Freedom Initiative