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The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) issued Opinion No. 31/2025, concluding that the detention of Yemeni national Mohammed Ali Hussein Al-Wadaei in Saudi Arabia is arbitrary and violates international human rights law. The Group called for his immediate release as well as full reparation. 

In its Opinion No. 1/2025, issued on 1 April 2025, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) concluded that the detention of Yemeni national Mohsen Saleh Nasser Al-Awlaqi was arbitrary and remains unlawful, in clear violation of international law.

On 30 May 2025, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) issued Opinion No. 37/2025, concluding that the detention of Bassam Al Jalladi, a Yemeni national detained in Saudi Arabia since 2019, is arbitrary. 

Saudi Arabia
Our concerns
  • Systematic practice of torture and arbitrary detention, including prolonged detention devoid of any legal basis;
  • Abusive counter-terrorism measures and unfair trials before the Specialised Criminal Court, often resulting in the death penalty ;
  • Severe repression of freedom of expression through arrests and arbitrary detention of peaceful dissidents, including human rights defenders;
  • Severe violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Yemen.

 

Human Rights Instruments
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
ICCPR Ratified ?
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (UNCAT)
UNCAT Ratified ?
UNCAT Ratification Date
OPCAT (National Preventive Mechanism) Ratified ?
National Preventive Mechanism (OPCAT) created ?
Date of last Concluding Observations by Committee against Torture (CAT)
Next CAT State Report Due
OVERDUE - State party did not submit report on time
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED)
ICPPED Ratified ?
Human Rights Council
Date last Universal Period Review (UPR)
UPR Next Review
Membership of Human Rights Council:

2006-2012, 2014-2019

National Human Rights Institution
Accreditation with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)
None
Latest Reports

On 30 October 2024, Alkarama submitted an urgent complaint to the Working Group on Business and Human Rights copying other concerned mandate holders regarding FIFA’s expedited bidding process for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Thematic