Saudi Arabia: ACPRA member Abdulrahman al-Hamid released after 9 years of detention

Abdulrahman al-Hamid

Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Hamid, a human rights activist and member of the Association for Civil and Political Rights "ACPRA", was released by the Saudi authorities after serving nine years in prison following an unfair trial for his peaceful activism. However, he remains under a travel ban for another nine years.

Over the past few years, Alkarama has been following the cases of prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia, including those of ACPRA members, through individual complaints to the United Nations Special Procedures and alternative reports to several UN bodies.

To this end, Alkarama has produced numerous media documents in which it has recalled the suffering of the victims. Alkarama has also addressed the international community as well as the different bodies of the United Nations, calling on them to put pressure on the Saudi government to put an end to its policies of repression and violation of human rights, including freedom of opinion and expression.

Mr. Abdul Rahman Al-Hamid, aged 61, was arrested on April 17, 2014. In a judgment dated October 13, 2015, the Specialized Criminal Court found him guilty of charges directly related to the exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association. He was sentenced to nine years in prison and banned from traveling for another nine years.

Alkarama's actions

In October 2016, Alkarama and several other human rights organizations launched a campaign against the persecution and practice of arbitrary detention against members of the Association for Civil and Political Rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (ACPRA).

Alkarama addressed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calling on him to demand the immediate release of all ACPRA members from detention by the Saudi authorities and the adoption of legislative reforms to guarantee the fundamental rights of all Saudi citizens.

In March 2018, on the occasion of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's first foreign visit (to Western capitals), Alkarama and international human rights organizations called on the international community to once again draw attention to the detention, suffering, and human rights violations suffered by activists, human rights defenders, and prisoners of conscience.