Release Muhammad Salih al-Bejadi
December 15, 2011
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
8-14, avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
facsimile: +41 22 9179006
E-mail: wgad@ohchr.org
Dear Dr. Navanethem Pillay,
Re: The ongoing detention of human rights activist, Mr. Muhammad Salih Al-Bejadi
I am deeply concerned over the imprisonment of a Saudi human rights activist and co-founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), Muhammad Salih Al-Bejadi, by Saudi officials in March 2011. This was due to his work in campaigning for the release of Saudi political prisoners. He has been denied all his fundamental rights guaranteed by international conventions and statutory Saudi laws. As you are likely aware, this case transpires within the context of Saudi Arabia's ongoing and unacceptable arbitrary detention of activists.
Mr. Al-Bejadi was arrested on 21 March 2011 and the circumstances of his imprisonment have been a clear denial of his basic human rights. He spent the first four months in solitary confinement. He was then transferred to a collective prison where he has shared a cell with nine other detainees. They are only allowed exposure to the sun for a few minutes twice a week and are fed poor quality food. Above all, Muhammad is denied proper access to health care.
On 3 October 2011, Muhammad al-Bejadi came before a court ironically created by the Interior Ministry to try those accused of violence and terrorism for the sixth time since his imprisonment. He has been charged with three unbelievable accusations; membership in a banned association, the possession of prohibited books and the intent to harm the reputation of the country. These charges implicitly refer to al-Bejadi's exposition of the gross violations of human rights by the torture and systematic abuse of detainees in Saudi Arabia. He has therefore done nothing that warrants his imprisonment and the treatment he has suffered.
As a prominent organisation within the United Nations, I ask that the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention urgently demand the immediate release of al-Bejadi and an apology and compensation for his detention. This ongoing detention of individuals who are clearly trying to express their right to freedom of speech must not be tolerated. Please call on the Saudi government to provide Mr. Al-Bejadi with his basic human rights and release him from this illegal imprisonment.
I look forward to hearing back from you regarding the steps that you are going to take in this case.
Yours sincerely,
William Nicholas Gomes