These nine civilians were arrested and charged, for similar offences, following which their cases were transferred to military courts. However, under international law, civilians should not be tried by military courts.

Saudi Arabia is unfortunately well-known for its widespread use of arbitrary detention, as Alkarama has denounced on numerous occasions.

Hachemi Boukhalfa was arrested arbitrarily on 9 January 2011 by the agents of the DRS and throughout a week was submitted to grave torture before being released. To this day, the Algerian judicial system has not taken up his case and he has been obliged to turn to UN authorities.

The 40-year-old lives in Ouargla where he sells cars.

Currently detained at Tora prison, he continues to suffer ill-treatment and is denied medical care for his wound.

Mr Hazimi was initially arrested in 2001 and remained in jail for 3 months. He was later arrested in 2002 where he was moved between many Saudi prisons before he ended up in the Zahban prison in Jeddah where he stayed, until he was released nine years later, without being charged and without any legal proceedings against him.