The report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders confirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that prosecute, arrest and restrict the movement of human rights defenders working against corruption.
Under the title: From the Heart of the Struggle: The Work of Human Rights Defenders Against Corruption, the Special Rapporteur, Marie Lawlor, published a report on the sidelines of the 49th session of the Human Rights Council, which will be held between 28 February and 4 April 2022. The report addressed the situation of human rights defenders working against corruption, He explained the importance of developing frameworks to protect them and enhance their work.
The report noted that although there is no single, consistent and recognized definition of corruption at the international level, the common approach to the concept of corruption defines it as "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain". The report also noted that corruption "undermines democratic institutions and contributes to instability," and that it is "not only a crime, but an immoral act and a betrayal of public trust."
The report indicated that human rights defenders who expose and follow up on corruption cases are subjected to grave violations, including physical assault, surveillance, arrest, and even murder. The Special Rapporteur noted that reports and information indicated what human rights defenders are exposed to, especially those working against corruption in criminal justice systems, in development work or in defense of the environment. She emphasized that among the reasons for targeting is that corruption leads to investigation and accountability of senior government officials.
The report indicated that Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that target human rights defenders against corruption, and cited the case of human rights defender Issa Al-Nukhaifi, who was sentenced to 6 years in prison and banned from traveling and using social media after his release from prison, due to his cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty during his visit to Saudi Arabia. in January 2017.
The report indicated that the Special Rapporteur, along with a number of rapporteurs, had expressed their concerns about the arbitrary arrest and ill-treatment of Al-Nukhaifi, due to his cooperation with the Special Rapporteur, who referred in his report to corruption and violations committed by the Saudi government.
The Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Philip Alston, had indicated in his report after his visit to Saudi Arabia that between 2015 and 2019, 1,323 killings of human rights defenders were recorded in 64 countries in the world, and those responsible in most cases were not brought to justice.
The Special Rapporteur made a number of recommendations, and emphasized the importance of recognizing and celebrating anti-corruption fighters as human rights defenders. The recommendations called on states to ensure the protection of human rights defenders from being attacked, intimidated or criminalized because of their work.
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights notes that Saudi Arabia has an approach in dealing with individuals who reveal facts about corruption. In January 2018, Saudi Arabia arrested journalist Saleh al-Shehi for his criticism of corruption in the royal court. Al-Shehhi died in July 2020 in a mysterious manner, shortly after his release. In February 2014, Saudi Arabia arrested journalist Wajdi Ghazzawi for his criticism of corruption.