Torture of human rights defenders is routine, says a special report published this week by the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR). The “Report on Torture in Saudi Arabia” was submitted as an alternative report to the 57th session of the United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT), during which Saudi Arabia will be reviewed.  On 21 April 2016, NGOs who have submitted an alternative report to the CAT on Saudi Arabia have presented their report and addressed their main concerns in person in the private NGO briefing.

This report presents some of the issues facing human rights defenders in violation of the UN Convention Against Torture and Other, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Since its initial UN CAT review in 2002, Saudi Arabia has modified its legislation with the alleged aim of bringing it in line with international obligations. Despite this it continues to fall short of these obligations and torture remains a serious issue, and continues to take place with impunity. 

Torture in detention is commonplace in Saudi Arabia, says the report, and includes “severe beating and flogging; hooding; hanging by hands and feet and beating on the soles of the feet; deprivation of sleep, food and light; exposure to extremes of temperature and the use of prolonged solitary confinement.” Incommunicado detention is also used as a tool to psychologically break down human rights defenders.

While many documented cases remain uninvestigated, hundreds of other cases remain unreported, concludes the report. This is due not only to the record of impunity but also out of fear of reprisals which could result in further targeting of human rights defenders who speak out.

Download the full report in English HERE.