On 13 October 2015, the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC), sentenced human rights defender and co-founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights  Association (ACPRA) Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Hamid to nine years in prison, a fine of 50,000 Saudi Riyals (approx. $13,300) and a nine-year travel ban to take effect on completion of his sentence.  The sentence was handed down following a grossly unfair trial that was based on trumped up charges including incitement against public order and participating in establishing an unlicensed organisation (ACPRA). He is the ninth founding member of ACPRA to be jailed (for further information see GCHR appeal https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/752).  He was arrested on 17 April 2014 and was initially held in incommunicado detention. He is now in detention in Buraidah prison in Al-Qassim region.

On the same day the SCC sentenced human rights defender Abdulaziz Al-Senaidi to eight years in prison, a fine of 50,000 Saudi Riyals (approx. $13,300) and an eight-year travel ban to take effect on completion of his sentence. The sentence was based on charges including incitement against public order for signing a petition calling for demonstration in public squares, and insulting the king and spreading chaos and inciting public opinion online via his Twitter account.  He was arrested on 8 March 2015 and interrogated about his online activities. He is currently in detention in Al-Malaz prison in Riyadh.

Both men were denied proper access to lawyers during their initial interrogations and also throughout the trials. This is in flagrant breach of international law and the right to a fair trial.

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) expresses serious concern at the unjust sentences handed down against Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Hamid and Abdulaziz Al-Senaidi and the lack of due process in the legal proceedings. The GCHR believes that their arrest, detention and sentencing are solely related to their human rights activities and the exercise of their right to freedom of expression. The GCHR expresses further concern at the restrictive and dangerous environment in which all human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia carry out their peaceful work.

The GCHR urges the authorities in Saudi Arabia to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Hamid and Abdulaziz Al-Senaidi and drop all charges against them;
2. Immediately and unconditionally release all human rights defenders in prison as a result of their human rights work;
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, recognises 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 (b) : “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; (b)To form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations, associations or groups;”;  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“, and to Article 12 (2): “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present declaration.”