Amnesty calls on Saudi Arabia to rescind arbitrary travel bans against activists

SANAA, May 10 (YPA) – Amnesty International called on Saudi Arabia to rescind arbitrary travel bans against activists, human rights defenders, and members of ruling families.

In the statement, the organization accused the Saudi authorities of using arbitrary travel bans as a tool to punish and control activists, writers and journalists by imprisoning them inside the country, or those living abroad, by preventing their families from traveling to them.

This came as part of a campaign that she launched to collect signatures under the title “Undo the Travel Restrictions”, it added that it had documented the case of 30 Saudi human rights defenders who were banned from traveling.

“The Saudi authorities’ arbitrary use of travel bans against activists and human rights defenders reflects a grim reality in the country, where dissenting voices continue to be silenced unabated,” said Lynn Maalouf, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the organization.

Maalouf added that “Activists who have dared to express any form of criticism or opinion have become victims of an illegal and punitive travel ban that effectively restricts their freedom of movement.”

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