Saudi Arabia: Fears for Well-Being of Recently-Arrested Egyptian Lawyer

After learning that the Saudi authorities had arrested Egyptian lawyer and a human rights defender Ahmed El-Sayed, more commonly known as Mr Ahmed Mohamed Sarwat Abdel Wahab El-Sayed (أحمد محمد ثروت عبدالوهاب السيد), upon his arrival at Jeddah airport yesterday 17 April 2012, Alkarama submitted an urgent appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. The urgent appeal urged them to take the necessary actions with the Saudi authorities to ensure Mr El-Sayed would not be tortured while detained as countless Egyptians nationals before him have been.

Mr Ahmed Mohamed Sarwat Abdel Wahab El-Sayed (أحمد محمد ثروت عبدالوهاب السيد) works as a lawyer and human rights defender on behalf of Egyptian nationals detained in Saudi Arabia, and most recently filed a formal complaint against the King of Saudi Arabia, in which he accused the king of arbitrarily detaining many Egyptians without charges or trials and called for their release. The case was filed before South Cairo Criminal Court.

Mr El-Sayed, aged 29, and his wife Mrs Sarwat travelled together from Egypt to Saudi Arabia to perform Omra or pilgrimage, to Mecca. Mr El-Sayed had managed to obtain his visa quickly and without any problems.

Upon arrival at Jeddah airport, Mr El-Sayed was immediately arrested by the Saudi police in uniform, who took him to an unknown destination. He was simply told that he was being arrested for insulting the King of Saudi Arabia, King Abullah Ben Abdel Aziz, but was not shown an arrest warrant.

The Saudi police told his wife, Mrs Sarwat to continue her trip, but did not give her any more information about what was happening, or would happen, to her husband.

Before been taken away, Mr El-Sayed expressed great concern that allegations may be fabricated against him, particularly given his work speaking out for, and defending, the rights of Egyptians arbitrarily detained in Saudi Arabia. He is also concerned that he could be indefinitely detained, as thousands of others have experienced similar arbitrary arrest and detention in the Kingdom.

Mr El-Sayed contacted Alkarama as soon as he learned he was to be arrested. Since then, Alkarama has not been able to contact him or his wife to have updated information on his current situation and his whereabouts, which is of a great concern to our organization .

Saudi Arabia acceded to the Convention against Torture on 23 September 1997 and according to its obligations under customary and international law, is not allowed to ill-treat individuals detained. Furthermore, individuals arrested must be informed of the charges against them, have access to legal counsel and must be presented to a judge within a reasonable time frame.