Saudi Arabia: Saudi rights activist arrested after posting article online

Dr. Al-Abdulkareem, a member of the "Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association" (ACPRA), was arrested by intelligence agents on 5 December 2010. On the day of his arrest, he was able to make a phone call to a close friend informing him that he was being held in Al-Hayr prison near Riyadh.

On 10 December 2010, Alkarama sent his case to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders requesting his intervention with the Saudi authorities to ensure that Dr. Al-Abdulkareem be either released or put on trial, in the presence of his lawyers; before a competent judicial body; and be legally informed of the reasons for his arrest and detention.

Dr. Al-Abdulkareem, 39 and a father of three, teaches law at the Mohamed Ibn Saoud University in Riyadh.

He is the chief editor of the Journal of the Congress of the Nation, a member of ACPRA, the "Arab Organisation for Freedom and Good Governance" and also the Editor in Chief of the National Congress Journal.

According to his family and colleagues, there is no doubt that his arrest was provoked by the recent publication on his Facebook page of an article entitled "Political conflicts between factions of the royal family" in which Dr.Al-Abdulkareem analyzes the problem of succession and the transfer of power in Saudi Arabia.

The academic piece was popular among the Saudi internet community and sparked a debate amongst Saudi civil society groups on the issue of organizational power within the kingdom.

Several lawyers united in defence of Dr. Al-Abdulkareem's case. On 8 December 2010 they submitted a document to the authorities requesting a guarantee that the victim's fundamental rights be respected. Emphasis was put on the following points:

- That he be given a provisional release order as he has not been the subject of any charges justifying his detention, here-by conforming to ministerial decree N° 1900 of 09/07/1428 and article 120 of the royal decree on criminal proceedings.

-That he be granted visits by the defence in order to ensure that he is treated in accordance with the law and compliance issues of criminal procedures under Article 39 of royal Decree.

-That his defence team may ensure that Dr Mohamed Al-Abdulkareem has been brought before a competent judicial body, complying with Section 14 of the previously mentioned decree.

To this day, Dr.Al-Abdulkareem's lawyers have received no response from the Saudi authorities. The head of the official Saudi organisation for human rights stated that "Dr. Mohamed Al-Abdulkareem had best not write a articles on such a subject".

There is no doubt that Dr. Al-Abdulkareem's arrest was motivated by the exercise of his right to freely and peacefully express his political views, as well as his work in defence of human rights defender.