Rights organization calls for int’I pressure on Saudi Arabia to release detainees

SANAA, Nov. 4 (YPA) – A human rights organization on Wednesday called for the international community to exert more pressure on Saudi Arabia to release dozens of detainees in conscience cases.
Stockholm-based Skyline International Human Rights Foundation stressed in a statement the need for serious action by the United Nations and the relevant international organizations to stop the escalation of violations of public freedoms in Saudi Arabia, and to probe into the arrest campaigns against the rights of activists and citizens to freedom of expression.

The statement pointed out that “Saudi Arabia is one of the first and most countries that exercise tight control over the Internet and social media, as well as punishment with imprisonment and fines in order to suppress dissenting voices.

“Saudi Arabia carries out arrest campaigns under the Cybercrime Law that human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, believe that it criminalizes criticism of the government on the Internet, ” it added.

The organization considered that “Saudi practices are in flagrant contradiction to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Saudi Arabia faces international criticism over the claims of freedom of expression and human rights, but it has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to implementing the law with transparency.

On May, 15, 2018, the Saudi authorities arrested a number of prominent human rights activists such “Loujain Al-Hathloul,” “Samar Badawi,” “Nasima Al-Sada,” “Nouf Abdel Aziz,” and “Maya Al-Zahrani.

AA