On 11 May 2011, Alkarama submitted the 30 cases to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and the protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Fadhel Makki Al-Manasif, a 25-year-old human rights defender from the Qatif region in eastern Saudi Arabia, was detained on 1 May 2011 at Al-Awamieh police station after answering a summons issued by Saudi Criminal Investigation Services (CIS).

On 30 April 2011, several CIS agents came to Fadhel Al-Manasif's home, who was absent at the time, and told his father that Fadhel should present himself to the CIS at Al-Awamief police station.

List of 716 people arrested during protests between 9 April - 2 May 2011 » File

22-year-old Mr Al Hamada, is a Syrian student normally attending business school. We fear that he might have been arrested as a hostage by the Syrian authorities as the latter search for relatives of Mr Al Hamada who are actively involved in the growing Syrian opposition movement.

Alkarama applauds the UN Human Rights Council for passing resolution S-16/1, at its special session on Syria on 29 April 2011, formally condemning the Syrian government for its use of force against peaceful pro-democracy protestors.

Hicham Gherras, a 43-year-old Moroccan national, was arrested by Political Security agents on 18 February 2011 in Sanaa. Despite promises that he would be freed, he is currently detained and subject to torture. Subsequently, he began a hunger strike on 10 April 2011 and has since been hospitalised.

On 20 April 2011 Alkarama addressed an urgent appeal to the Special Rapporteur on Torture, requesting his intervention with the Yemeni authorities in order that he be freed immediately - or at least that he be charged a competent legal authority.