The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) welcomes the resolution of the European Parliament (EP) calling for the release of imprisoned human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia, including women’s rights defenders. The EP notes that “since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud came to power in June 2017, many outspoken human rights defenders, activists and critics have been arbitrarily detained, or unjustly sentenced.”

On 13 February 2019, 101 Members of the EP issued a resolution on women’s rights defenders in Saudi Arabia (2019/2564(RSP)) which “insists that the Saudi Authorities put an end to all forms of harassment, including at judicial level, against Loujain Al-Hathloul, Aziza Al-Yousef, Eman Al-Nafjan, Nouf Abdulaziz, Mayaa Al-Zahrani, Samar Badawi, Nassima Al-Sada, Shadan Al-Anezi, Abir Namankani, Amal Al-Harbi, Hatoon Al-Fassi, Israa Al-Ghomgham, Mohammed Al-Rabea and all other human rights defenders in the country, so that they are able to carry out their work without unjustified hindrance or fear of reprisals against them and their families.”

Most of the above-named defenders have been imprisoned since May and August 2018 as part of a crackdown on women’s rights activists. Mohammed Al-Bajadi also remains in prison as part of the crackdown on women’s rights defenders, according to GCHR’s information.

Peaceful protester Israa Al-Ghomgham, who has been in prison since 2015, is currently on trial, but no longer faces the death penalty, as previously reported by GCHR. The resolution expresses concern for her “physical and mental well-being,” a valid concern amidst the latest reports of torture of women activists.

The resolution “Strongly condemns the detention of the women human rights defenders who campaigned for the lifting of the driving ban, as well as of all peaceful human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and activists, and expresses its shock at the credible reports of systematic torture against several of them, including Loujain Al-Hathloul.” That includes being placed in solitary confinement between May and September 2018, while others are held incommunicado and remain forcibly disappeared.

As a result, the resolution “urges the Saudi authorities to facilitate the access of independent medical doctors to the detainees.”

The resolution also mentions that Al-Hathloul has been nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. She was detained following her engagement with United Nations mechanisms, when she attended a review session on Saudi Arabia at the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). That session concluded that Saudi Arabia has not complied with the principles of CEDAW.

The resolution makes strong commentary about “the Vision 2030 reform agenda, which aims to bring about the economic and social transformation of the country, including through women’s empowerment,” and which “should have been a real opportunity for Saudi women to secure their legal emancipation, which is absolutely crucial for the full enjoyment of their rights under CEDAW; whereas, however, the recent wave of arrests and alleged torture of women’s rights activists runs counter to this aim, and may distract from the reform agenda.”

Thus, the EP resolution “calls on the Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release these women’s rights defenders and all human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and other prisoners of conscience detained and sentenced merely for exercising their right to freedom of expression and for their peaceful human rights work, and to allow international independent monitors to meet with detained women human rights defenders.” Those monitors must include observers from the EU Delegation to Saudi Arabia, other EU or UN representatives including the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and international NGOs.

GCHR appreciates that the resolution further “praises and supports the Saudi women’s rights defenders who are seeking equal and fair treatment in their society and those who have defended human rights despite the difficulties they have to face.”

GCHR and partners have been actively advocating on various levels for the release of women human rights defenders from Saudi prisons. GCHR has contributed through its reports, submissions, statements, advocacy missions and joint campaigns to elucidate the plight of Saudi women human rights defenders and lobby for their support and calls for their immediate release and protection. For more information see: https://www.gc4hr.org/country/index/country/3.

While GCHR praises the statement, it calls on the EU as well as the UN and its member states to act immediately to hold Saudi Arabia accountable, and put an end to the human rights violations perpetrated by the state with utmost impunity.