Awad Al-Qarni, a 65-year-old law professor and prominent Saudi preacher, was arrested by the intelligence services (Mahabith) in 2017 during the massive crackdown on preachers, human rights defenders, journalists and businessmen including members of the royal family. He is accused of using social networks (Twitter and WhatsApp) to spread information interpreted as "hostile" to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The families of political prisoners in the Badr Prison, north-east of Cairo, have called for the right to visit their loved ones and for the lifting of the restrictions imposed on the prisoners.

The director of Alkarama, lawyer Rachid Mesli, participated in a conference on the situation of human rights in Tunisia, organised by the Association of Victims of Torture (AVTT) in the margins of the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.    

Human rights organizations that signed this statement express their grave concern about the severe violations committed by the Egyptian authorities inside the "Badr Rehabilitation and Correction Center" also known as the "Badr Prisons Complex 1, 2, 3". These actions constitute a flagrant violation of the Egyptian constitution, laws, international treaties, and conventions, as well as a clear violation of the minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners established by the United Nations.

These violations include:

Alkarama and 168 NGOs sent a joint letter to all UN member states urging them to support the renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders at the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Alkarama, SAM - a non-governmental organization (NGO) - and other Yemeni and international human rights organizations have issued an urgent appeal to the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council to intervene to end the political trials of detainees in Yemen.

A UN expert has expressed concern over an escalating crackdown against civil society by Algerian authorities after the dissolutions of la Ligue Algérienne pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme (LADDH) and le Rassemblement Actions Jeunesse (

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed concern over the escalating crackdown in Tunisia against civil society and political opponents of President Kaïs Saïed.

The spokesman for the High Commissioner, Jeremy Lawrence, told reporters in Geneva that at least nine people had reportedly been arrested and some detained-on security and graft charges.