Washington Center for Human Rights (WCHR) is deeply concerned about the continued imprisonment of Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani, a prominent Saudi Arabian human rights activist. Dr. Al-Qahtani has been detained since 2012 without any formal charges or trial, in what can only be described as a blatant violation of his fundamental human rights.
Dr. Al-Qahtani is a highly respected scholar, an accomplished lawyer, and a renowned human rights activist. He has dedicated his life to promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Saudi Arabia. He is the founder and former director of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), a prominent human rights organization in Saudi Arabia.
In 2012, Dr. Al-Qahtani was arrested along with several other activists, and has been detained ever since without any formal charges or trial. He has been subjected to various forms of torture, including physical abuse, sleep deprivation, and psychological torture. Despite the international outcry and numerous calls for his release, the Saudi authorities have refused to release him.
The continued imprisonment of Dr. Al-Qahtani is not only a violation of his human rights, but also a clear violation of international human rights law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Saudi Arabia is a signatory to, states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
The United Nations Human Rights Council has also repeatedly called on Saudi Arabia to release Dr. Al-Qahtani and other human rights activists who have been arbitrarily detained. The Council has expressed its concern that the Saudi authorities are using the country’s counter-terrorism laws to justify the arbitrary detention of human rights activists.
WCHR strongly condemns the continued imprisonment of Dr. Al-Qahtani and calls on the Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him. We also call on the international community to put pressure on Saudi Arabia to respect the human rights of all its citizens, including human rights defenders and activists.
The international community, including the United States, has a responsibility to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its human rights violations. The United States should use its influence to pressure Saudi Arabia to release Dr. Al-Qahtani and other human rights activists who have been arbitrarily detained.
WCHR also calls on the Saudi authorities to ensure that all detainees are treated in accordance with international human rights standards, and that they are not subjected to torture or other forms of ill-treatment. We urge the Saudi authorities to respect the human rights of all its citizens and to take immediate steps to promote and protect human rights in the country.
In conclusion, WCHR reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani and other human rights activists who have been arbitrarily detained. The Saudi authorities must respect the human rights of all its citizens, and the international community must hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its human rights violations.