Rights organizations issue joint statement calling on Saudi Arabia to release detainees News
LoboStudioHamburg / Pixabay
Rights organizations issue joint statement calling on Saudi Arabia to release detainees

A group of 40 rights organizations issued a joint statement Friday calling on Saudi Arabian authorities to release all those unfairly jailed for their online activities before Riyadh hosts the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) from December 15 to 19.

The organizations stated that the detention contradicts the IGF’s stated values, which focus on advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age. They further said that Saudi authorities are subjecting people to unprecedented repression and decades-long prison sentences for expressing critical views online.

The statement added:

All IGF participants — states, international organizations and individuals — must also demand the freedom of those unjustly detained for their online expression or else risk their presence at the IGF being instrumentalized to whitewash the violations of a government intent on silencing all critical voices online.

Saudi authorities have reportedly targeted several individuals, including medical doctor Osama Khalid, fitness instructor Manahel al-Otaibi and women’s rights activist Salma al-Shehab. These individuals have been sentenced to prison for promoting women’s rights online, swaying public opinion and violating public morals.

In July, Saudi Arabia sentenced 47-year-old Saudi teacher Asaad al-Ghamdi to 20 years in prison for social media activity. Asaad, the brother of exiled government critic Saeed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi, was convicted of multiple offenses under Saudi Arabia’s counterterrorism law, including publishing false news and challenging the religion of the king and crown prince. His posts on the social media platform X criticized changes in the Saudi government and projects related to Vision 2030,  Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s program to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy.

Human Rights Watch further claimed that Saudi authorities often use transnational repression against overseas critics to coerce them back to Saudi Arabia.

UN experts also appealed to Saudi Arabia on September 15, 2023, to revoke the death sentence of Mohammad al-Ghamdi, another brother of Asaad al-Ghamdi, accused of social media dissent.

THIS DAY @ LAW

President Harding signed "anti-beer bill"

On November 23, 1921, President Warren G. Harding signed the Willis-Campbell Act, popularly termed the "anti-beer bill," prohibiting doctors from prescribing beer or liquor for medicinal purposes.

Convention on Cybercrimes opens for signature

On November 23, 2001, the Convention on Cybercrime was opened for signature in Budapest, Hungary, before entering into force on July 1, 2004. The Convention seeks to coordinate the Internet laws of signatory states and promote international enforcement of cybercrime laws. Learn more about the Convention on Cybercrime from the Council of Europe.