Today, Abdul karim Al-Khodr, a long-standing Saudi human rights defender, was sentenced to eight years in prison and a 10-year travel ban. Alkarama is deeply concerned by the acts of reprisals against ACPRA human rights defenders, especially those who cooperate with the United Nations.

Yahya Hussein Ahmad Shaqibel, a 33 year-old Yemeni national, was arrested in October 2009 by unidentified Malaysian security forces on demand of Saudi intelligence services (Mabahith) while on a business trip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He was then transferred to Saudi Arabia where he was arrested upon arrival in Riyadh. After almost four years of arbitrary detention, he is now accused of 'khariji' and terrorism and is awaiting his verdict.

On 10 June, dozens of women and children in the Saudi cities of Al-Jawf, Ha'il, Mecca, Riyadh, Buraydah and other areas came out in a nationwide protest that they named the "Freedom Sit-In".

On 16 June, Algerian human rights activist Smail Ghellab was threatened by a local agent from the Intelligence and Security Department (DRS).

Yesterday, 17 June 2013, Yemeni and American activists organized a sit-in in front of the American embassy in Sanaa to protest against drone attacks in the context of American counter-terrorism policy, and to denounce the inability of the Obama administration to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

Many of the detainees at Guantanamo have been on a hunger strike since February 2013, demanding their release and transport back to their countries.

Alkarama received a distress call from the families of 15 Egyptians who were detained two weeks ago in the United Arab Emirates. The state security forces arrested them after they were called for investigation in early June. Fifteen other Egyptians had been arrested in December 2012 and January 2013, which brings the number of Egyptians detained in the UAE to 30. Alkarama has documented the cases of fifteen of them.

Essam Atta died under torture while detained in Tora Prison following an unfair trial before a military court. On 8 June 2013, General Prosecutor decided to close the investigation opened in Essam Atta's case, following a decision by the Cairo Court of Appeal to suspend the case.

On 10 June 2013, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Mr Richard Falk, presented his report to the UN Human Rights Council.

Alkarama today condemned the Sudanese Authorities for continuing to detain two journalists, the photojournalist 'Ali Mustafa Muhammad al-Hajj, 34, and producer Yusuf Ibrahim, 43.