The UN rapporteur, charged with monitoring the situation of human rights defenders, expressed concern on Wednesday about the fate of Saudi activist Muhammad Al-Qahtani, who has been jailed for years, and whose family has been cut off. out since October 23rd.
“I am concerned about reports that the family has lost all contact with Mohammed Al-Qahtani since October 23, 2022, after he filed a complaint for attacks on him by other prisoners,” the said in a statement. United Nations expert Marie Lawlor.
“I ask the competent authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to inform his family of where he is and of his current state of health and to allow his family and his lawyer to communicate with him,” he added.
Independent expert @MaryLawlorhrds is “increasingly concerned about the health and life of jailed Saudi human rights defender Mohammad Al-Qahtani, who is reportedly being held in solitary confinement after his family filed a complaint about attacks on him by detainees “. https://t.co/rbxzSFRbrz pic.twitter.com/wJdtP7EWzN
– UN Geneva (@UNGeneva) November 9, 2022
Al-Qahtani is one of the founders of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights, which was dissolved in 2013.
In the same year he was sentenced to ten years in prison for conspiring against state security and inciting disorder and insurrection.
The expert confirmed that the Saudi authorities accused him of providing false information to foreign parties, including the United Nations.
The Saudi activist has protested several times against his mistreatment in Al-Ha’ir prison in Riyadh, according to the text of the statement.
Since last May he has reported assaults by other inmates and the prison authorities have refused his request to transfer him to another prison.
The expert said that secret detention is a violation of human rights under international law.
Today marks the ninth anniversary of the arrest of Dr. Muhammad Al-Qahtani @mfqahtani.
Al-Qahtani is serving a 10-year prison sentence for his human rights activism.
He was neglected and lost contact with his family and contracted a virus #crown Due to its spread to the entire wing of prisoners of conscience in Al-Ha’ir prison.https://t.co/fG3WVBPKHd pic.twitter.com/M99hjuklR1
– Saudi European Human Rights Organization (@ESOHumanRights) March 9, 2022
“Such methods raise serious concerns for the personal safety of detainees, because they run a greater risk of ill-treatment and torture when any contact with the outside world is prohibited,” he said.
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