Jailed women’s rights activists to face trial in Saudi Arabia
5 years, 10 months ago

Jailed women’s rights activists to face trial in Saudi Arabia

Al Jazeera  

Detainees ‘enjoy all rights preserved by the laws’, prosecutor’s office says, after reports of torture in custody. Saudi Arabia‘s public prosecution office has referred detained women’s rights activists to trial, saying those charged “enjoy all rights preserved by the laws in the kingdom” after they were reportedly tortured in custody. The Saudi government has rejected the allegation with Friday’s statement saying “all detainees in this case enjoy all rights preserved by the laws in the kingdom”. “The Saudi prosecution is bringing charges against the women’s rights activists instead of releasing them unconditionally,” said Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The Saudi authorities have done nothing to investigate serious allegations of torture, and now, it’s the women’s rights activists, not any torturers, who face criminal charges and trials.” Samah Hadid, the Amnesty International’s Middle East campaigns director, said: “These women’s rights activists should be released from detention for their peaceful activism not referred to trial.

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History of this topic

Human rights group alleges widespread torture, abuse of detainees accused of IS affiliation in Syria
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Human rights group alleges widespread torture, abuse of detainees accused of IS affiliation in Syria

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — Amnesty International said Wednesday it has documented widespread abuses, including torture and deprivation of medical care, in detention facilities holding thousands of suspected Islamic State members and their relatives in northeast Syria. The Amnesty report said the vast majority of detainees are being held “indefinitely, without charge or trial, in violation of international human rights law and international …

Saudi Arabia hears dozens of countries critique its human rights record at the U.N. in Geneva
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Saudi Arabia hears dozens of countries critique its human rights record at the U.N. in Geneva

The Hindu  

Saudi Arabia had its record on human rights including freedoms for women, prosecutions for freedom of speech, use of the death penalty and alleged killing of migrants at its border with Yemen critiqued at the United Nations on January 23. In the kingdom's first formal review at the U.N. Human Rights Council since November 2018, the Saudi Arabia delegation said …

Saudi Arabia hears dozens of countries critique its human rights record at the UN in Geneva
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Saudi Arabia hears dozens of countries critique its human rights record at the UN in Geneva

Associated Press  

GENEVA — Saudi Arabia had its record on human rights including freedoms for women, prosecutions for freedom of speech, use of the death penalty and alleged killing of migrants at its border with Yemen critiqued at the United Nations on Monday. In the kingdom’s first formal review at the UN Human Rights Council since November 2018, the Saudi Arabia delegation …

A daughter of long-detained activist in Bahrain is blocked from traveling to the island kingdom
1 year, 3 months ago

A daughter of long-detained activist in Bahrain is blocked from traveling to the island kingdom

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A daughter of a long-detained human rights activist in Bahrain tried to return to the island kingdom on Friday to press for her father’s release but was turned away from her flight in London. Bahrain’s government said in a statement it “reserves the right to refuse entry, if deemed necessary.” It did not elaborate though …

UN report calls on Saudi Arabia to release 2 women jailed over tweets, alleging rights abuses
1 year, 6 months ago

UN report calls on Saudi Arabia to release 2 women jailed over tweets, alleging rights abuses

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.N. human rights experts on Friday called for the release of two Saudi Arabian women they say were arbitrarily detained and denied basic rights after tweeting criticism of the kingdom’s policies. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, a panel of independent experts tasked by the U.N. Human Rights Council with investigating possible violations, said in …

Rights group, UN experts express concern over Bahrain arrests
1 year, 10 months ago

Rights group, UN experts express concern over Bahrain arrests

Al Jazeera  

HRW says Manama still committing widespread rights violations as it seeks to ‘display image of reform and tolerance’. Bahrain must drop all charges against three men who have been arrested amid ongoing violations of the “rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association” in the Gulf country, Human Rights Watch has said. The appeal on Tuesday by the international rights …

Taliban's curbs on women's freedom may amount to crimes against humanity: UN rights expert
2 years, 1 month ago

Taliban's curbs on women's freedom may amount to crimes against humanity: UN rights expert

India Today  

Taliban restrictions on the freedoms of women and girls could amount to a crime against humanity, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan said Friday. Richard Bennett and other UN rights experts said the Taliban's targeting of women and girls deepen "flagrant violations of their human rights and freedoms that are already the most draconian globally and may …

Saudi woman sentenced to 45 years in prison for social media use
2 years, 4 months ago

Saudi woman sentenced to 45 years in prison for social media use

LA Times  

The government of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has cracked down on women’s rights activists while making a few concessions, such as allowing women to drive. A Saudi court has sentenced a woman to 45 years in prison for allegedly damaging the country through her social media activity, according to a court document obtained Wednesday. An official charge sheet …

Torture, abuse on women objecting to Taliban restrictions : Amnesty report
2 years, 5 months ago

Torture, abuse on women objecting to Taliban restrictions : Amnesty report

Hindustan Times  

The lives of Afghan women and girls are being destroyed by a “suffocating” crackdown by the Taliban since they took power nearly a year ago, Amnesty International said in a report released Wednesday. Amnesty said the Taliban have also decimated protections for those facing domestic violence, detained women and girls for minor violations and contributed to a surge in child …

Saudi Arabian dissidents ‘being sexually assaulted and murdered’ in prison
2 years, 6 months ago

Saudi Arabian dissidents ‘being sexually assaulted and murdered’ in prison

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Prisoners held for opposing the government in Saudi Arabia are being murdered, …

UN documents prisoners' torture, abuse in Ukrainian conflict
3 years, 6 months ago

UN documents prisoners' torture, abuse in Ukrainian conflict

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Prisoners taken by the warring …

Rights group denounces Houthi trial of female Yemeni actor
3 years, 6 months ago

Rights group denounces Houthi trial of female Yemeni actor

Associated Press  

CAIRO — An international rights group Wednesday accused Yemen’s Houthi rebels of prosecuting a female actor and model on charges of committing an indecent act and drug possession in a case “marred with irregularities and abuse.” The Iran-backed Houthis, who control Yemen’s capital of Sanaa and much of the country’s north, detained 20-year-old Intisar al-Hammadi in Sanaa in February along …

Two Saudi women's rights activists released from prison
3 years, 6 months ago

Two Saudi women's rights activists released from prison

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Two Saudi women’s rights campaigners …

Saudi court upholds activist al-Hathloul’s sentence at hearing
3 years, 10 months ago

Saudi court upholds activist al-Hathloul’s sentence at hearing

Al Jazeera  

Rights activist al-Hathloul, who was released in February after three years in prison, appeared at an appeal hearing. A Saudi court has upheld the original sentence of women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul, who had championed women’s right to drive and for an end to Saudi Arabia’s male guardianship system. Walking to the court on Wednesday morning before the appeals hearing, …

Who is Loujain al-Hathloul, the Activist Who Fought for Women's Driving Rights in Saudi Arabia
3 years, 10 months ago

Who is Loujain al-Hathloul, the Activist Who Fought for Women's Driving Rights in Saudi Arabia

News 18  

After spending almost three years behind bars, prominent women’s rights activist from Saudi Loujain al-Hathloul was released, her family confirmed earlier this week. The first vote in Saudi’s local elections to include women in 2015 saw Hathloul applying to contest, but Amnesty International said Hathloul’s name was barred. Hathloul’s family has said US President Joe Biden’s election win helped secure …

‘Loujain is not free’: Family of Saudi women’s rights activist vow to get ‘real justice’ after her release
3 years, 10 months ago

‘Loujain is not free’: Family of Saudi women’s rights activist vow to get ‘real justice’ after her release

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The family of prominent Saudi …

Saudi women empowerment ‘a lie’, say siblings of Loujain al-Hathloul a day after her release
3 years, 10 months ago

Saudi women empowerment ‘a lie’, say siblings of Loujain al-Hathloul a day after her release

CNN  

CNN — The family of Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul issued a scathing rebuke to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a press conference Thursday, a day after the women’s rights defender was released from prison. “We really see that women empowerment is a lie in Saudi Arabia, that there are no real reforms,” said Brussels-based Lina al-Hathloul, who was a …

Prominent Saudi women’s rights activist released from prison
3 years, 10 months ago

Prominent Saudi women’s rights activist released from prison

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — One of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent political activists was released from prison Wednesday, her family said, after serving nearly three years on charges that sparked an international uproar over the kingdom’s human rights record. “She was a powerful activist for women’s rights and releasing her was the right thing to do.” Biden had labeled Saudi …

Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul released from prison
3 years, 11 months ago

Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul released from prison

Al Jazeera  

Prominent women’s rights activist, who campaigned for women’s right to drive and to end kingdom’s male guardianship system, spent more than 1,000 days in prison. Prominent women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has been released from a Saudi prison after nearly three years behind bars, according to her family. تم الافراج عن لجين pic.twitter.com/fqug9VK6Mj — Lina Alhathloul لينا الهذلول February 10, …

U.S. credibility on human rights wrecked under Trump, group says in reporting worldwide abuses
3 years, 11 months ago

U.S. credibility on human rights wrecked under Trump, group says in reporting worldwide abuses

LA Times  

Holding President Trump accountable for anti-democratic actions is crucial to any hope of restoring U.S. credibility in combating human rights abuses across the globe, a leading advocacy group argued Wednesday as it released its annual compilation of the world’s worst rights violators. Human Rights Watch’s annual report detailed a harrowing litany of rights abuses, including China’s oppression of its Uighur …

Jailed Saudi Activist Who Rallied for Women to be Allowed to Drive Referred to Terror Court
4 years, 1 month ago

Jailed Saudi Activist Who Rallied for Women to be Allowed to Drive Referred to Terror Court

News 18  

Loujain al-Hathloul, the jailed activist who led the charge to allow women to drive in Saudi Arabia, has gone from jailed rights activist to alleged national security threat. Al-Hathloul’s family said the 31-year-old activist’s case was being transferred to the Specialized Criminal Court due to a “lack of jurisdiction” by Riyadh’s criminal court, where her trial had been suspended for …

Women activists, political prisoners ‘sexually assaulted, tortured and executed in Saudi Arabia’ jails
4 years, 1 month ago

Women activists, political prisoners ‘sexually assaulted, tortured and executed in Saudi Arabia’ jails

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Jailed women’s rights activists and political prisoners have been sexually assaulted, tortured …

Saudi Arabia rebuked at UN over Jamal Khashoggi killing, abuses
4 years, 3 months ago

Saudi Arabia rebuked at UN over Jamal Khashoggi killing, abuses

Al Jazeera  

Statement by dozens of countries highlighted a wide range of serious human rights violations in the kingdom. Dozens of nations condemned Saudi Arabia before the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday over serious violations and demanded accountability for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Torture, disappearances Tuesday’s statement, which was hailed by several human rights groups, also highlighted a wide …

Sister of Saudi women’s rights activist fears she is being tortured, as she hasn’t been heard from in months
4 years, 4 months ago

Sister of Saudi women’s rights activist fears she is being tortured, as she hasn’t been heard from in months

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The sister of a prominent jailed Saudi women’s rights campaigner has raised …

Women who dare dissent targeted for abuse by Yemen’s rebels
4 years, 8 months ago

Women who dare dissent targeted for abuse by Yemen’s rebels

Associated Press  

CAIRO — Samera al-Huri’s fellow activists were disappearing, one by one. “This is the darkest age for Yemeni women,” said Rasha Jarhum, founder of the Peace Track Initiative, which lobbies for women’s inclusion in peace talks between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Al-Huri said when she rejected a Houthi official’s request to snitch on other activists, she was …

Egypt: Targeting the final line of defence
5 years, 1 month ago

Egypt: Targeting the final line of defence

Al Jazeera  

The government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is accused of cracking down on lawyers and human rights defenders. “Every day, I go to work and wonder if I’ll return,” explained Khaled*, an Egyptian lawyer, formerly at a human rights organisation that provided legal support for students and other young people. Human Rights Watch has said that the widespread and systematic …

Sister of jailed Saudi women’s rights activist says she is forced to endure ‘emotional rollercoaster’ due to authorites’ silence
5 years, 3 months ago

Sister of jailed Saudi women’s rights activist says she is forced to endure ‘emotional rollercoaster’ due to authorites’ silence

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The sister of a prominent Saudi women’s rights campaigner who has allegedly …

Saudi Arabia women’s rights reforms less extensive than they appear, campaigners warn
5 years, 4 months ago

Saudi Arabia women’s rights reforms less extensive than they appear, campaigners warn

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Saudi Arabia’s reforms on women’s rights are radically less extensive than they …

Saudi court postpones hearing for women activists
5 years, 8 months ago

Saudi court postpones hearing for women activists

Al Jazeera  

A court official informed some of the women’s relatives that the session would not take place on Wednesday as expected. A Saudi court has postponed a fourth hearing in the trial of several women rights activists, a case that has intensified Western criticism of Saudi Arabia. A court official informed some of the women’s relatives that the session would not …

Saudi Arabia temporarily releases three women activists
5 years, 9 months ago

Saudi Arabia temporarily releases three women activists

CNN  

CNN — Saudi Arabia temporarily released three of the 11 women activists standing trial for charges related to their human rights work, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported Thursday. While Saudi Arabia has not made the charges against any of the women public, Human Rights Watch reported in mid-March that they appeared to be “almost entirely related to their human …

Saudi cites UN job application as evidence against activist Loujain al-Hathloul
5 years, 9 months ago

Saudi cites UN job application as evidence against activist Loujain al-Hathloul

CNN  

CNN — A prominent Saudi activist’s admission that she once applied for a job at the United Nations is being used as part of the kingdom’s case against her, CNN has learned. Saudi Arabia has not publicly released the charges against women’s rights defender Loujain al-Hathloul, or several other prominent female activists who are currently on trial in Riyadh on …

Detained Saudi women’s rights activists tell judges of abuse
5 years, 9 months ago

Detained Saudi women’s rights activists tell judges of abuse

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Nearly a dozen Saudi women’s rights activists seated before a three-judge panel in a Riyadh courtroom Wednesday laid out their defense and spoke of physical and sexual abuse they say they were subjected to by masked interrogators, according to people with knowledge of the case. Several people with knowledge of the cases say charges against …

Brother of Saudi women’s rights activist ‘being tortured in prison’ fears her treatment is getting worse
5 years, 9 months ago

Brother of Saudi women’s rights activist ‘being tortured in prison’ fears her treatment is getting worse

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I would love to go back and contribute to the country but why would I go …

Saudi women’s rights campaigner who has been ‘tortured and sexually harassed in prison’ goes on trial
5 years, 9 months ago

Saudi women’s rights campaigner who has been ‘tortured and sexually harassed in prison’ goes on trial

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A leading Saudi women’s rights campaigner who has allegedly been tortured and …

Detained Saudi women’s rights activists brought to court
5 years, 9 months ago

Detained Saudi women’s rights activists brought to court

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Women’s rights activists in Saudi Arabia appeared in a closed-door court hearing Wednesday on unknown charges after being detained in a crackdown last year, making their first appearance before a judge in a case that has sparked international outrage. The arrests came just before Saudi Arabia began allowing women to drive, something women’s rights activists …

Saudi criticised over human rights by 36 countries
5 years, 10 months ago

Saudi criticised over human rights by 36 countries

The Quint  

London, March 8 Thirty-six countries have signed an open letter criticising Saudi Arabia's human rights record, media reported. It urges Saudi Arabia to release human rights activists jailed for "exercising their fundamental freedoms" and to "disclose all information available" about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "I call upon Saudi Arabia to ensure that all members of the public including …

EU, Canada and Australia issue first rebuke of Saudi Arabia at UNHRC; statement calls for activists' release, condemns Khashoggi killing
5 years, 10 months ago

EU, Canada and Australia issue first rebuke of Saudi Arabia at UNHRC; statement calls for activists' release, condemns Khashoggi killing

Firstpost  

It was the first rebuke of Saudi Arabia at the UN Human Rights Council since it was set up in 2006 and came amid growing international concern about Saudi violations of basic freedoms such as freedom of expression Geneva: Three dozen countries, including all 28 EU members, called on Saudi Arabia on Thursday to release 10 activists and cooperate with …

Saudi Arabia criticized over human rights by 36 countries
5 years, 10 months ago

Saudi Arabia criticized over human rights by 36 countries

CNN  

CNN — Thirty-six countries have signed an open letter criticizing Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. It urges Saudi Arabia to release human rights activists jailed for “exercising their fundamental freedoms” and to “disclose all information available” about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. “I call upon Saudi Arabia to ensure that all members of the public including human rights defenders …

UN human rights chief calls for release of Saudi activists
5 years, 10 months ago

UN human rights chief calls for release of Saudi activists

Al Jazeera  

The United Nations human rights chief has called on Saudi Arabia to release women activists allegedly tortured in detention after Saudi authorities accused them of harming the country’s interests. “Today, allow me to voice my concern at the apparently arbitrary arrest and detention and alleged ill-treatment and torture of several women human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia,” Bachelet – who …

Jailed Saudi women activists, who complained of custodial torture, to now face trial for 'national security violations'
5 years, 10 months ago

Jailed Saudi women activists, who complained of custodial torture, to now face trial for 'national security violations'

Firstpost  

Several people with knowledge of their arrest said that some of the women’s rights activists who were detained have been subjected to caning, electrocution and others were also sexually assaulted. Dubai: Prosecutors in Saudi Arabia have referred detained women’s rights activists to trial, saying those charged “enjoy all rights preserved by the laws in the kingdom” after them being reportedly …

Saudi leaders may be responsible for activists’ torture: UK MPs
5 years, 11 months ago

Saudi leaders may be responsible for activists’ torture: UK MPs

Al Jazeera  

They say the ‘highest Saudi authorities’ may be implicated in what is likely a violation of international law. Three British politicians have endorsed reports stating that women activists detained in Saudi Arabia have been tortured, and said responsibility for what is likely a violation of international law could lie with “Saudi authorities at the highest level”. The conclusions of the …

Saudi women’s rights activist is being tortured in ‘palace of terror,’ brother says
5 years, 11 months ago

Saudi women’s rights activist is being tortured in ‘palace of terror,’ brother says

CNN  

CNN — The brother of jailed Saudi activist Loujain Alhathloul has detailed in a CNN opinion piece the abuse his sister has allegedly endured in prison. In the article, Walid Alhathloul writes that during a recent visit by his parents to see Loujain she told them she was regularly whipped, beaten, electrocuted and sexually harassed in a basement she called …

Women detainees 'being sexually assaulted and flogged' in secret Saudi prisons
5 years, 11 months ago

Women detainees 'being sexually assaulted and flogged' in secret Saudi prisons

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Female rights activists in Saudi …

Rights groups call for access to Saudi detainees
5 years, 11 months ago

Rights groups call for access to Saudi detainees

Al Jazeera  

Rights groups have called on Saudi Arabia to grant them access to detainees in the kingdom a day after British parliamentarians threatened to publish their own report detailing allegations of mistreatment unless Riyadh allows them in by next week. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch on Friday called on Saudi Arabia to allow independent monitors to meet detainees, including women’s …

British MPs, lawyers request access to ‘tortured’ Saudi activists
5 years, 11 months ago

British MPs, lawyers request access to ‘tortured’ Saudi activists

Al Jazeera  

Detention review panel says it remains committed to seeing eight female activists held at a jail in Jeddah since May. A cross-party group of British politicians and international lawyers has said it remains committed to visiting eight female activists in Saudi Arabia, some of whom were jailed and allegedly subjected to torture after campaigning for the right for women to …

Houthis illegally detaining, torturing women: Yemeni activists
5 years, 11 months ago

Houthis illegally detaining, torturing women: Yemeni activists

Al Jazeera  

Sanaa-based monitor says Houthi rebels are holding dozens of women without trial and often torturing the detainees. Yemen’s Houthi rebels are holding dozens of women without trial and often torturing the detainees and blackmailing their families, activists and a human rights lawyer have told the Associated Press news agency. The group’s founder, Nabil Fadel, said he had received information from …

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