{"id":1667,"date":"2018-10-28T10:21:06","date_gmt":"2018-10-28T10:21:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info?p=1667"},"modified":"2018-11-01T10:22:09","modified_gmt":"2018-11-01T10:22:09","slug":"saudi-arabia-kingdom-must-be-held-to-account-for-suppression-of-dissent-following-murder-of-journalist-and-widespread-arrest-of-womens-rights-defenders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/?p=1667&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Saudi Arabia: Kingdom must be held to account for suppression of dissent, following murder of journalist and widespread arrest of women\u2019s rights defenders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recognising the fundamental right to express our views, free from repression, we the undersigned civil society organisations call on the international community, including the United Nations, multilateral and regional institutions as well as democratic governments committed to the freedom of expression, to take immediate steps to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for grave human rights violations. The murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi<\/strong> in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on 2 October is only one of many gross and systematic violations committed by the Saudi authorities inside and outside the country. As the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists approaches on 2 November, we strongly echo calls for an independent investigation into Khashoggi\u2019s murder, in order to hold those responsible to account.<\/p>\n

This case, coupled with the rampant arrests of human rights defenders, including journalists, scholars and women\u2019s rights activists; internal repression; the potential imposition of the death penalty on demonstrators; and the findings of the UN Group of Eminent Experts report<\/a> which concluded that the Coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, have committed acts that may amount to international crimes in Yemen, all demonstrate Saudi Arabia\u2019s record of gross and systematic human rights violations. Therefore, our organisations further urge the UN General Assembly to suspend Saudi Arabia from the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), in accordance with operative paragraph 8 of the General Assembly resolution 60\/251<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saudi Arabia has never had a reputation for tolerance and respect for human rights, but there were hopes that as Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman rolled out his economic plan (Vision 2030), and finally allowed women to drive, there would be a loosening of restrictions on women\u2019s rights, and freedom of expression and assembly. However, prior to the driving ban being lifted in June, women human rights defenders received phone calls warning them to remain silent. The Saudi authorities then arrested<\/a> dozens of women\u2019s rights defenders (both female and male) who had been campaigning against the driving ban. The Saudi authorities\u2019 crackdown against all forms of dissent has continued to this day.<\/p>\n

Khashoggi criticised the arrests of human rights defenders and the reform plans of the Crown Prince, and was living in self-imposed exile in the US. On 2 October 2018, Khashoggi went to the Consulate in Istanbul with his fianc\u00e9e to complete some paperwork, but never came out. Turkish officials soon claimed there was evidence that he was murdered in the Consulate, but Saudi officials did not admit he had been murdered until more than two weeks later.<\/p>\n

It was not until two days later, on 20 October, that the Saudi public prosecution\u2019s investigation released findings confirming that Khashoggi was deceased. Their reports suggested that he died after a \u201cfist fight\u201d in the Consulate, and that 18 Saudi nationals have been detained. King Salman also issued royal decrees terminating the jobs of high-level officials, including Saud Al-Qahtani, an advisor to the royal court, and Ahmed Assiri, deputy head of the General Intelligence Presidency. The public prosecution continues its investigation, but the body has not been found.<\/p>\n

Given the contradictory reports from Saudi authorities, it is essential that an independent international investigation is undertaken.<\/p>\n

On 18 October, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on Turkey<\/a> to request that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres<\/strong> establish a UN investigation into the extrajudicial execution of Khashoggi.<\/p>\n

On 15 October 2018, David Kaye<\/strong>, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, and Dr. Agn\u00e8s Callamard<\/strong>, the UN Special Rapporteur on summary executions, called for<\/a> \u201can independent investigation that could produce credible findings and provide the basis for clear punitive actions, including the possible expulsion of diplomatic personnel, removal from UN bodies (such as the Human Rights Council), travel bans, economic consequences, reparations and the possibility of trials in third states.\u201d<\/p>\n

We note that on 27 September, Saudi Arabia joined consensus at the UN HRC as it adopted a new resolution on the safety of journalists (A\/HRC\/Res\/39\/6<\/a>). We note the calls in this resolution for \u201cimpartial, thorough, independent and effective investigations into all alleged violence, threats and attacks against journalists and media workers falling within their jurisdiction, to bring perpetrators, including those who command, conspire to commit, aid and abet or cover up such crimes to justice.\u201d It also \u201c[u]rges the immediate and unconditional release of journalists and media workers who have been arbitrarily arrested or arbitrarily detained.\u201d<\/p>\n

Khashoggi had contributed to the Washington Post<\/em> and Al-Watan<\/em> newspaper, and was editor-in-chief of the short-lived Al-Arab News Channel in 2015. He left Saudi Arabia in 2017 as arrests of journalists, writers, human rights defenders and activists began to escalate. In his last column<\/a> published in the Washington Post,<\/em> he criticised the sentencing of journalist Saleh Al-Shehi<\/strong> to five years in prison in February 2018. Al-Shehi is one of more than 15 journalists and bloggers who have been arrested<\/a> in Saudi Arabia since September 2017, bringing the total of those in prison to 29, according to RSF, while up to 100 human rights defenders<\/a> and possibly thousands of activists are also in detention according to the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) and Saudi partners including ALQST. Many of those detained in the past year had publicly criticised reform plans related to Vision 2030, noting that women would not achieve economic equality merely by driving.<\/p>\n

Another recent target of the crackdown on dissent is prominent economist Essam Al-Zamel<\/strong>, an entrepreneur known for his writing about the need for economic reform. On 1 October 2018, the Specialised Criminal Court (SCC) held a secret session<\/a> during which the Public Prosecution charged Al-Zamel with violating the Anti Cyber Crime Law by \u201cmobilising his followers on social media.\u201d Al-Zamel criticised Vision 2030 on social media, where he had one million followers. Al-Zamel was arrested<\/a> on 12 September 2017 at the same time as many other rights defenders and reformists.<\/p>\n

The current unprecedented targeting of women human rights defenders started in January 2018 with the arrest of Noha Al-Balawi<\/strong><\/a> due to her online activism in support of social media campaigns for women\u2019s rights such as (#Right2Drive) or against the male guardianship system (#IAmMyOwnGuardian). Even before that, on 10 November 2017, the SCC in Riyadh sentenced<\/a> Naimah Al-Matrod<\/strong> to six years in jail for her online activism.<\/p>\n

The wave of arrests<\/a> continued after the March session of the HRC and the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) published its recommendations<\/a> on Saudi Arabia. Loujain Al-Hathloul<\/strong>, was abducted in the Emirates and brought to Saudi Arabia against her will on 15 May 2018; followed by the arrest of Dr. Eman Al-Nafjan<\/strong>, founder and author of the Saudiwoman\u2019s Weblog<\/a>, who had previously protested the driving ban; and Aziza Al-Yousef<\/strong>, a prominent campaigner for women\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n

Four other women\u2019s human rights defenders who were arrested in May 2018 include Dr. Aisha Al-Manae<\/strong>, Dr. Hessa Al-Sheikh <\/strong>and Dr. Madeha Al-Ajroush<\/strong>, who took part in the first women\u2019s protest movement demanding the right to drive in 1990; and Walaa Al-Shubbar<\/strong>, a young activist well-known for her campaigning against the male guardianship system. They are all academics and professionals who supported women\u2019s rights and provided assistance to survivors of gender-based violence. While they have since been released, all four women are believed to be still facing charges.<\/p>\n

On 6 June 2018, journalist, editor, TV producer and woman human rights defender Nouf Abdulaziz <\/strong>was arrested<\/a> after a raid on her home. Following her arrest, Mayya Al-Zahrani <\/strong>published a letter from Abdulaziz, and was then arrested<\/a> herself on 9 June 2018, for publishing the letter.<\/p>\n

On 27 June 2018, Hatoon Al-Fassi<\/strong>, a renowned scholar, and associate professor of women\u2019s history at King Saud University, was arrested<\/a>. She has long been advocating for the right of women to participate in municipal elections and to drive, and was one of the first women to drive the day the ban was lifted on 24 June 2018.<\/p>\n

Twice in June, UN special procedures called for the release of women\u2019s rights defenders. On 27 June 2018, nine independent UN experts stated, \u201cIn stark contrast with this celebrated moment of liberation for Saudi women, women\u2019s human rights defenders have been arrested and detained on a wide scale across the country, which is truly worrying and perhaps a better indication of the Government\u2019s approach to women\u2019s human rights.\u201d They emphasised that women human rights defenders \u201cface compounded stigma, not only because of their work as human rights defenders, but also because of discrimination on gender grounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the arrests of women human rights defenders continued with Samar Badawi<\/strong> and Nassima Al-Sadah<\/strong><\/a> on 30 July 2018. They are being held in solitary confinement in a prison that is controlled by the Presidency of State Security, an apparatus established by order of King Salman on 20 July 2017. Badawi\u2019s brother Raif Badawi<\/strong> is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for his online advocacy, and her former husband Waleed Abu Al-Khair<\/strong>, is serving a 15-year sentence. Abu Al-Khair, Abdullah Al-Hamid<\/strong>, and Mohammad Fahad Al-Qahtani<\/strong> (the latter two are founding members of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association \u2013 ACPRA) were jointly awarded the Right Livelihood Award in September 2018. Yet all of them remain behind bars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Relatives of other human rights defenders have also been arrested. Amal Al-Harbi<\/strong>, the wife of prominent activist Fowzan Al-Harbi<\/strong>, was arrested by State Security on 30 July 2018 while on the seaside with her children in Jeddah. Her husband is another jailed member of ACPRA. Alarmingly, in October 2018, travel bans<\/a> were imposed against the families of several women\u2019s rights defenders, such as Aziza Al-Yousef, Loujain Al-Hathloul and Eman Al-Nafjan.<\/p>\n

In another alarming development, at a trial before the SCC on 6 August 2018, the Public Prosecutor called for the death penalty<\/a> for Israa Al-Ghomgam<\/strong> who was arrested with her husband\u00a0Mousa Al-Hashim <\/strong>on 6 December 2015 after they participated in peaceful protests in Al-Qatif. Al-Ghomgam was charged under Article 6 of the Cybercrime Act of 2007 in connection with social media activity, as well as other charges related to the protests. If sentenced to death, she would be the first woman facing the death penalty on charges related to her activism. The next hearing was scheduled for 28 October 2018.<\/p>\n

The SCC, which was set up to try terrorism cases in 2008, has mostly been used to prosecute human rights defenders and critics of the government in order to keep a tight rein on civil society.<\/p>\n

On 12 October 2018, UN experts again called for the release<\/a> of all detained women human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia. They expressed particular concern about Al-Ghomgam\u2019s trial before the SCC, saying, \u201cMeasures aimed at countering terrorism should never be used to suppress or curtail human rights work.\u201d It is clear that the Saudi authorities have not acted on the concerns raised by the special procedures \u2013 this non-cooperation further brings their membership on the HRC into disrepute.<\/p>\n

Many of the human rights defenders arrested this year have been held in incommunicado detention with no access to families or lawyers. Some of them have been labelled traitors and subjected to smear campaigns in the state media, escalating the possibility they will be sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Rather than guaranteeing a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders at a time of planned economic reform, the Saudi authorities have chosen to escalate their repression against any dissenting voices.<\/p>\n

Our organisations reiterate our calls to the international community to hold Saudi Arabia accountable and not allow impunity for human rights violations to prevail.<\/p>\n

We call on the international community, and in particular the UN, to:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Take action to ensure there is an international, impartial, prompt, thorough, independent and effective investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi;<\/li>\n
  2. Ensure Saudi Arabia be held accountable for the murder of Khashoggi and for its systematic violations of human rights;<\/li>\n
  3. Call a Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the recent wave of arrests and attacks against journalists, human rights defenders and other dissenting voices in Saudi Arabia;<\/li>\n
  4. Take action at the UN General Assembly to suspend Saudi Arabia\u2019s membership of the Human Rights Council; and<\/li>\n
  5. Urge the government of Saudi Arabia to implement the below recommendations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We call on the authorities in Saudi Arabia to:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Produce the body of Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi and invite independent international experts to oversee investigations into his murder; cooperate with all UN mechanisms; and ensure that those responsible for his death, including those who hold command responsibility, are brought to justice;<\/li>\n
    2. Immediately quash the convictions of all human rights defenders, including women and men advocating for gender equality, and drop all charges against them;<\/li>\n
    3. Immediately and unconditionally release all human rights defenders, writers, journalists and prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia whose detention is a result of their peaceful and legitimate work in the promotion and protection of human rights including women\u2019s rights;<\/li>\n
    4. Institute a moratorium on the death penalty; including as punishment for crimes related to the exercise of rights to freedom of opinion and expression, and peaceful assembly;<\/li>\n
    5. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders and journalists in Saudi Arabia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities and public interest reporting without fear of reprisal;<\/li>\n
    6. Immediately implement the recommendations<\/a> made by the UN Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen; and<\/li>\n
    7. Ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and bring all national laws limiting the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association into compliance with international human rights standards.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Signed,<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Access Now<\/li>\n
      2. Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) \u2013 France<\/li>\n
      3. Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) \u2013 Germany<\/li>\n
      4. Al-Marsad \u2013 Syria<\/li>\n
      5. ALQST for Human Rights<\/li>\n
      6. ALTSEAN-Burma<\/li>\n
      7. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB)<\/li>\n
      8. Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS) \u2013 Jordan<\/li>\n
      9. Amman Forum for Human Rights<\/li>\n
      10. Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI)<\/li>\n
      11. Armanshahr\/OPEN ASIA<\/li>\n
      12. ARTICLE 19<\/li>\n
      13. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)<\/li>\n
      14. Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)<\/li>\n
      15. Asociaci\u00f3n Libre de Abogadas y Abogados (ALA)<\/li>\n
      16. Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE)<\/li>\n
      17. Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE)<\/li>\n
      18. Association malienne des droits de l\u2019Homme (AMDH)<\/li>\n
      19. Association mauritanienne des droits de l\u2019Homme (AMDH)<\/li>\n
      20. Association nig\u00e9rienne pour la d\u00e9fense des droits de l\u2019Homme (ANDDH)<\/li>\n
      21. Association of Tunisian Women for Research on Development<\/li>\n
      22. Association for Women\u2019s Rights in Development (AWID)<\/li>\n
      23. Awan Awareness and Capacity Development Organization<\/li>\n
      24. Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD)<\/li>\n
      25. Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law \u2013 Tajikistan<\/li>\n
      26. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)<\/li>\n
      27. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)<\/li>\n
      28. Canadian Center for International Justice<\/li>\n
      29. Caucasus Civil Initiatives Center (CCIC)<\/li>\n
      30. Center for Civil Liberties \u2013 Ukraine<\/li>\n
      31. Center for Prisoners\u2019 Rights<\/li>\n
      32. Center for the Protection of Human Rights \u201cKylym Shamy\u201d \u2013 Kazakhstan<\/li>\n
      33. Centre oecum\u00e9nique des droits de l\u2019Homme (CEDH) \u2013 Ha\u00efti<\/li>\n
      34. Centro de Pol\u00edticas P\u00fablicas y Derechos Humanos (EQUIDAD) \u2013 Per\u00fa<\/li>\n
      35. Centro para la Acci\u00f3n Legal en Derechos Humanos (CALDH) \u2013 Guatemala<\/li>\n
      36. Citizen Center for Press Freedom<\/li>\n
      37. Citizens\u2019 Watch \u2013 Russia<\/li>\n
      38. CIVICUS<\/li>\n
      39. Civil Society Institute (CSI) \u2013 Armenia<\/li>\n
      40. Code Pink<\/li>\n
      41. Columbia Law School Human Rights Clinic<\/li>\n
      42. Comit\u00e9 de acci\u00f3n jur\u00eddica (CAJ) \u2013 Argentina<\/li>\n
      43. Comisi\u00f3n Ecum\u00e9nica de Derechos Humanos (CEDHU) \u2013 Ecuador<\/li>\n
      44. Comisi\u00f3n Nacional de los Derechos Humanos \u2013 Dominican Republic<\/li>\n
      45. Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) -Northern Ireland<\/li>\n
      46. Committee to Protect Journalists<\/li>\n
      47. Committee for Respect of Liberties and Human Rights in Tunisia<\/li>\n
      48. Damascus Center for Human Rights in Syria<\/li>\n
      49. Danish PEN<\/li>\n
      50. DITSHWANELO \u2013 The Botswana Center for Human Rights<\/li>\n
      51. Dutch League for Human Rights (LvRM)<\/li>\n
      52. Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center \u2013 Azerbaijan<\/li>\n
      53. English PEN<\/li>\n
      54. European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (ECDHR)<\/li>\n
      55. European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR)<\/li>\n
      56. FIDH within the framework of the Observatory for the protection of human rights defenders<\/li>\n
      57. Finnish League for Human Rights<\/li>\n
      58. Freedom Now<\/li>\n
      59. Front Line Defenders<\/li>\n
      60. Fundaci\u00f3n regional de asesor\u00eda en derechos humanos (INREDH) \u2013 Ecuador<\/li>\n
      61. Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) \u2013 Uganda<\/li>\n
      62. Groupe LOTUS (RDC)<\/li>\n
      63. Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)<\/li>\n
      64. Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR)<\/li>\n
      65. Human Rights Association (IHD) \u2013 Turkey<\/li>\n
      66. Human Rights Center (HRCIDC) \u2013 Georgia<\/li>\n
      67. Human Rights Center \u201cViasna\u201d \u2013 Belarus<\/li>\n
      68. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan<\/li>\n
      69. Human Rights Concern (HRCE) \u2013 Eritrea<\/li>\n
      70. Human Rights in China<\/li>\n
      71. Human Rights Center Memorial<\/li>\n
      72. Human Rights Movement \u201cBir Duino Kyrgyzstan\u201d<\/li>\n
      73. Human Rights Sentinel<\/li>\n
      74. IFEX<\/li>\n
      75. Index on Censorship<\/li>\n
      76. Initiative for Freedom of Expression (IFoX) \u2013 Turkey<\/li>\n
      77. Institut Alternatives et Initiatives citoyennes pour la Gouvernance d\u00e9mocratique (I-AICGD) \u2013 DR Congo<\/li>\n
      78. International Center for Supporting Rights and Freedoms (ICSRF) \u2013 Switzerland<\/li>\n
      79. Internationale Liga f\u00fcr Menscherechte<\/li>\n
      80. International Human Rights Organisation \u201cFiery Hearts Club\u201d \u2013 Uzbekistan<\/li>\n
      81. International Legal Initiative (ILI) \u2013 Kazakhstan<\/li>\n
      82. International Media Support (IMS)<\/li>\n
      83. International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR)<\/li>\n
      84. International Press Institute<\/li>\n
      85. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)<\/li>\n
      86. Internet Law Reform and Dialogue (iLaw)<\/li>\n
      87. Iraqi Association for the Defense of Journalists\u2019 Rights<\/li>\n
      88. Iraqi Hope Association<\/li>\n
      89. Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)<\/li>\n
      90. Justice for Iran<\/li>\n
      91. Karapatan \u2013 Philippines<\/li>\n
      92. Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law<\/li>\n
      93. Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture<\/li>\n
      94. KontraS<\/li>\n
      95. Latvian Human Rights Committee<\/li>\n
      96. Lao Movement for Human Rights<\/li>\n
      97. Lawyers\u2019 Rights Watch Canada<\/li>\n
      98. League for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI)<\/li>\n
      99. Legal Clinic \u201cAdilet\u201d \u2013 Kyrgyzstan<\/li>\n
      100. Ligue alg\u00e9rienne de d\u00e9fense des droits de l\u2019Homme (LADDH)<\/li>\n
      101. Ligue centrafricaine des droits de l\u2019Homme<\/li>\n
      102. Ligue des droits de l\u2019Homme (LDH) Belgium<\/li>\n
      103. Ligue des Electeurs (LE) \u2013 DRC<\/li>\n
      104. Ligue ivoirienne des droits de l\u2019Homme (LIDHO)<\/li>\n
      105. Ligue s\u00e9n\u00e9galaise des droits humains (LSDH)<\/li>\n
      106. Ligue tchadienne des droits de l\u2019Homme (LTDH)<\/li>\n
      107. Maison des droits de l\u2019Homme (MDHC) \u2013 Cameroon<\/li>\n
      108. Maharat Foundation<\/li>\n
      109. MARUAH \u2013 Singapore<\/li>\n
      110. Middle East and North Africa Media Monitoring Observatory<\/li>\n
      111. Monitoring Committee on Attacks on Lawyers, International Association of\u00a0People\u2019s Lawyers (IAPL)<\/li>\n
      112. Movimento Nacional de Direitos Humanos (MNDH) \u2013 Brasil<\/li>\n
      113. Muslims for Progressive Values<\/li>\n
      114. Mwatana Organization for Human Rights<\/li>\n
      115. National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists<\/li>\n
      116. No Peace Without Justice<\/li>\n
      117. Norwegian PEN<\/li>\n
      118. Odhikar<\/li>\n
      119. Open Azerbaijan Initiative<\/li>\n
      120. Organisation marocaine des droits humains (OMDH)<\/li>\n
      121. People\u2019s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD)<\/li>\n
      122. People\u2019s Watch<\/li>\n
      123. PEN America<\/li>\n
      124. PEN Canada<\/li>\n
      125. PEN International<\/li>\n
      126. PEN Lebanon<\/li>\n
      127. PEN Qu\u00e9bec<\/li>\n
      128. Promo-LEX \u2013 Moldova<\/li>\n
      129. Public Foundation \u2013 Human Rights Center \u201cKylym Shamy\u201d \u2013 Kyrgyzstan<\/li>\n
      130. Rafto Foundation for Human Rights<\/li>\n
      131. RAW in WAR (Reach All Women in War)<\/li>\n
      132. Reporters Without Borders (RSF)<\/li>\n
      133. Right Livelihood Award Foundation<\/li>\n
      134. Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights<\/li>\n
      135. Sahrawi Media Observatory to document human rights violations<\/li>\n
      136. SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights (SALAM DHR)<\/li>\n
      137. Scholars at Risk (SAR)<\/li>\n
      138. Sham Center for Democratic Studies and Human Rights in Syria<\/li>\n
      139. Sisters\u2019 Arab Forum for Human Rights (SAF) \u2013 Yemen<\/li>\n
      140. Solicitors International Human Rights Group<\/li>\n
      141. Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research<\/li>\n
      142. Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)<\/li>\n
      143. Tanmiea \u2013 Iraq<\/li>\n
      144. Tunisian Association to Defend Academic Values<\/li>\n
      145. Tunisian Association to Defend Individual Rights<\/li>\n
      146. Tunisian Association of Democratic Women<\/li>\n
      147. Tunis Center for Press Freedom<\/li>\n
      148. Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights<\/li>\n
      149. Tunisian League to Defend Human Rights<\/li>\n
      150. Tunisian Organization against Torture<\/li>\n
      151. Urgent Action Fund for Women\u2019s Human Rights (UAF)<\/li>\n
      152. Urnammu<\/li>\n
      153. Vietnam Committee on Human Rights<\/li>\n
      154. Vigdis Freedom Foundation<\/li>\n
      155. Vigilance for Democracy and the Civic State<\/li>\n
      156. Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition<\/li>\n
      157. Women\u2019s Center for Culture & Art \u2013 United Kingdom<\/li>\n
      158. World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)<\/li>\n
      159. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) within the framework of the Observatory for the protection of human rights defenders<\/li>\n
      160. Yemen Center for Human Rights<\/li>\n
      161. Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)<\/li>\n
      162. 17Shubat For Human Rights<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Recognising the fundamental right to express our views, free from repression, we the undersigned civil society organisations call on the international community, including the United Nations, multilateral and regional institutions as well as democratic governments committed to the freedom of expression, to take immediate steps to hold Saudi Arabia accountable<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1665,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[72],"labor":[],"years":[],"class_list":["post-1667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-statements","tag-saudi-arabia"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1667"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1668,"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1667\/revisions\/1668"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1665"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1667"},{"taxonomy":"labor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Flabor&post=1667"},{"taxonomy":"years","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fyears&post=1667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}