Saudi Arabia: Al-Hajiri's case submitted to Special Rapporteur on Health - brain tumor requires urgent operation
17 Dec 2009
Arrested on 16 December 2007 by Saudi Intelligence service (Al-Mabahit Al-Aama) at the Al-Khafdji border crossing between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Nasser Al-Hajiri, 37, a Kuwaiti national, is currently detained at the Intelligence Services' detention center in Dammam. He suffers from health complications associated with diabetes, arterial hypertension and a serious brain tumor. Since his arrest, Mr Al-Hajiri has neither received any formal charges nor has he been presented before a judicial authority. Alkarama fears that his life is currently at risk due to the lack of medical care in his place of detention.
Alkarama submitted his case to the Special Rapporteur on Health and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on 17 December 2008. An urgent update regarding his case was published on Alkarama's website, on 9 December 2009, bringing to light his health deterioration due to medical negligence and ill-treatment.
Medical examinations reveal that he requires and urgent operation and sources indicate that the Saudi authorities have ignored medical advice and he remains untreated.
Alkarama has urged of the UN special procedures to urgently intervene with regards to Nasser Al-Hajiri's case in hopes that he receive the medical treatment to which he is entitled by law.