Case No Country SAU 9/2012 12/07/2012 Saudi Arabia JUA Mandate(s) Arbitrary detention; Freedom of expression; Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Human rights defenders; Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply 26/01/2015 Alleged arbitrary arrests and detention and charges against human rights defenders and undue restrictions on freedom of association. According to the information received, on 11 June 2012, Mr. Abdulla Al Hamid was brought before Riyadh Criminal Court charged with offences related to his human rights work. While attending the trial as a member of Mr. Al Hamid’s defence team, Mr. Mohammad Fahd Al Qahtani was reportedly notified that he himself faced similar charges and was ordered to appear before Riyadh Criminal Court on 18 June. Mr. Fadhel Al Manasif, a member of the Arab Institute for Human Rights, was allegedly arrested on 1 May 2011 and presented with charges in relation to protests which took place in March 2009 in the Eastern Province. Mr. Al Manasif was reportedly re-arrested on 2 October 2011 and detained since then in the General Investigations Prison in Dammam. On 28 February 2012, Mr. Al Manasif reportedly appeared before the Specialised Criminal Court in Riyadh, which deals exclusively with terrorism and security related cases. It is reported that Mr. Al Manasif was subjected to solitary confinement for three months and denied family visits. It is also alleged that Mr. Al Manasif has been subjected to acts of torture and ill treatment. It is further reported that other human rights defenders would be facing lawsuits in relation to their human rights work, including Mr. Mukhlif Shammari, Mr. Waleed Abulkhir, head of Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Raef Badawi, founder of the Saudi Free Liberal Network, Mr. Abdulkareem Yousef Al-Khoder, cofounder and current President of the ACPRA, and Mr. Saleh Al Ashwan. Mr. Mohammad Fahd Al-Qahtani and Mr. Mukhlif Shammari were subjects of a previous communication (see A/HRC/21/ 49; case no SAU 7/2012). A/HRC/28/85 140 Date Type