On 29th March 2013, Sadek Ramadan attempted to cross the border from Saudi Arabia to Qatar by car with his family. Ramadan intended to spend the week’s vacation there, but an Immigration Officer told him that he is banned from travelling and that he had to return to Saudi Arabia. Ramadan inquired about the reason for preventing him from traveling, but the officer did not give any, saying that his name is on a list of people banned from going abroad.

Sadek Al-Ramadan is the Secretary-General and one of the co-founders of the Justice Center for Human Rights (Adala), which was informally established on 10 December 2011 to coincide with International Human Rights Day. Adala’s objectives include monitoring and documenting human rights cases, educating citizens and immigrants on their legal rights and promoting a culture of respect for human rights in Saudi society. Sadek Ramadan participated in the second Gulf Forum for Human Rights Defenders organized by the Gulf Centre for Human Rights in Istanbul during 1-2 March 2013

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights urges the authorities in Saudi Arabia to:

1. Carry out an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation into the prevention of Sadek Al-Ramadan from leaving the country to attend a human rights conference with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in line with international standards;

2. Ensure that Sadek Al-Ramadan is free to travel to and from Saudi Arabia without illegitimate interference by authorities;

3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment. 

The GCHR respectfully reminds you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognizes the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 5 (c): “For the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels: (c) To communicate with non-governmental or intergovernmental organizations“ and to Article 6 (c): “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: (c) To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters“.