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On 6 December 2016, Muawiya Harba and Sultan Harba, two Syrians from the same family living in refugee camps in the border city of Arsal, east Lebanon, will have their next trial session before the Military Court in Beirut. They are facing terrorism charges based solely on information extracted under torture during their secret detention at the premises of the Ministry of Defence in Yarzeh, Baabda.

On 18 November 2016, Alkarama and Human Rights Guardians wrote to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances (WGEID) regarding the cases of two Syrian citizens from the village of Kafr al-Tun, who disappeared in the Governorate of Hama in western central Syria in 2012.

On 17 November 2016, Alkarama wrote to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders (SR HRD) regarding the case of two Saudi activists, Mohamed Al Otaibi and Abdullah Al Atawi, who are currently put on trial before the Specialised Criminal Court (SCC) due to their peaceful human rights activism. The next trial hearing is set for 26 December 2016.

GENEVA (17 November 2016) – The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has renewed its call for Saudi Arabia to release nine human rights activists who were jailed after participating in activities relating to the promotion and protection of human rights.

The men should be freed immediately as their detention is in violation of international human rights standards, according to the expert panel which assesses cases independently in the light of international law.

On 18 September 2016, the Emirati President issued Decree Law No. 7 of 2016 amending the UAE Penal Code (PC). The decree, which amends 132 existing articles and adds 34 new articles to the PC, endangers basic rights including the right to life and the right to freedom of opinion and expression as well as the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

The right to life

In November 2016, Alkarama and Al Wissam Humanitarian Assembly wrote to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearance (WGEID) regarding the cases of Mazen Al Izzi and Ali Al Dahi who both disappeared after their arrest by the US and Iraqi forces, hoping the UN experts' intervention will help shed light on their fate and whereabouts.

On 7 October 2013, Syrian political activist Asaad Al Mir– also known as Faeq Al Mir – was arrested in Damascus and has since been disappeared. His family is very concerned as he needs regular medical care due to health issues he suffers because of previous mistreatment in detention.

On 4 November 2016, the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) adopted a draft report containing the recommendations made by United Nations Member States to Syria during the State's review, which took place on 31 October 2016.

On 3 November 2016, Alkarama alerted the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) of the case of Qadry Samy Zaky Abd Elrahman Muafy, a 49-year-old Egyptian citizen from Kafr Saad, Damietta Governorate who was abducted by members of the Police in Mit Ghamr, Dakahlia Governorate on 29 October 2016.

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has recently released its Opinion on the case of Adam Al Natour, a 21-year-old Polish and Jordanian student who was sentenced to four years of imprisonment by the State Security Court after a flawed trial during which confessions he was forced to sign under torture were used against him.