Saudi Arabia: Son of Saudi civil rights activist tortured and illegally detained

On 3 March 2010, 20-year-old Thamer Alkhodr was arrested by security agents. At the time of his arrest, he was not shown a warrant nor was he charged. He would spend his first two days in secret detention. Following his arrest, the agents searched his home without a warrant - confiscating some of his personal belongings including two computers belonging to his father.

Following two days incommunicado detention, on 5 March 2010, Thamer Alkhodr was transferred to Al Hayr prison. While at Al-Hayr prison, he was tortured and kept in solitary confinement for more than 100 days. According to sources, his life was threatened on several occasions. He now bears the permanent marks of torture from a severe beating which led to his hospitalization after he lost consciousness.

On 7 February 2011, Alkarama addressed the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteur on Torture and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of freedom of speech. This was not the first communication send by Alkarama as an urgent appeal. On 12 March 2010, an appeal was sent to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders asking him to intervene with the Saudi authorities.

It is believe that Thamer Alkhodr was arrested because of his father, Dr. Abdelkarim Alkhodr , who is a founding member of the Association for Civil and Political Rights in Saudi Arabia (ACPRA). Dr. Alkodr was frequent harassed by Saudi security agents due to his human rights work on behalf of ACPRA.

On 21 June 2010, Thamer Alkhodr was transferred to Al-Qassim prison where he remains illegally detained to this day. He has been denied access to a lawyer or medical aid, which is of particular concern, as his health continues to deteriorate since his arrest.

Several members of the Alkhodr family have been harassed and bullied while visit Al-Qassim prison. On 18 December 2010 they decided to boycott the prison visits until the prison authorities stop harassing them.

Thamer Alkhodr's family contacted the Minister of Interior on several occasions requesting Thamer's release and to protect him torture, however no such actions have yet been taken.

To this day, Alkhodr remains unaware of the charges held against him, if any at all.