AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 30 April 2004, Dr. Tawfiq al-Qussayyir, a professor of electronics at King Sa'ud University, and at least four other individuals were released from prison after signing a pledge that they would liaise with government authorities before carrying out public activities. Dr. al-Qussayyir was among twelve individual arrested in March 2004 by the Saudi government after they criticized the government’s human rights policy. The group issued a critical statement charging that the recently created National Commission on Human Rights lacks independence from the government and cannot be a credible watchdog for human rights in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Matrouk al-Falih, a professor of political science at King Sa'ud University, and Dr. Abdullah al-Hamid, former professor of contemporary literature at Imam Muhammad bin Sa'ud University, both refused to sign the pledge and remain in a Riyadh prison. They are being held with out charge or trial and may be at risk for torture or ill-treatment. According to reports, the men are being held in solitary confinement and have not been granted access to their families or lawyers.

Recent government reforms have updated the criminal procedure code to prohibit torture and recognize the right to a lawyer during criminal investigations and trials. Despite these gains, there is real concern that the arrest of the prominent academics represents a reversal of human rights protections in Saudi Arabia

(Sources of information for this case include: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and The Washington Post.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Expressing concern that the conditional releases of prisoners that require them to liaise with government officials may prevent full realization of freedom of expression;
• Expressing your continued concern about the remaining detainees, including Dr. Matrouk al-Falih and Dr. Abdullah al-Hamid, who are reportedly being held with out charge or trial and may be at risk for torture or ill-treatment;
• Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees as it appears that they are being persecuted for exercising their freedom of expression to question government policy; and
• Requesting that the authorities comply with their own criminal code procedures to ensure that detainees are not subject to torture or ill-treatment and are granted access to their families and lawyers.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

His Royal Highness Prince Naif bin 'Abdul 'Aziz
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
P.O. Box 2933, Airport Road
Riyadh 11134, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: 011 966 1 403 1185
Salutation: Your Royal Highness:

His Excellency Dr. 'Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
University Street,
Riyadh 11137, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: 011 966 1 401 1741
Salutation: Your Excellency:

His Majesty King Fahd bin 'Abdul-'Aziz
The Custodian of the Two Holy Shrines
Office of H.M. The King
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Salutation: Your Majesty

COPIES SENT TO:

Ambassador Prince Bandar Bin Sultan
Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States
Embassy of Saudi Arabia
601 New Hampshire Ave. NW
Washington DC 20037
Fax: 1 202 944 3113

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

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