(Beirut) – Saudi Arab civil society Organizations, activists, and dissidents should be able to freely express their vision and agenda for a future that respects their country’s rights without fear of retribution, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said today. Both organizations stand in solidarity with the Saudi people seeking a future for their country that prioritizes respect for human rights.
Saudi human rights defenders and activists who released the roadmap on May 11, 2023, “A People’s Approach to Reform in Saudi ArabiaHeld a public event for human rights and rule of law in Saudi Arabia. often official in saudi arabia to react Exiled government critics and human rights defenders who speak out against the country’s violations and advocate for human rights.
“At great personal risk, the brave Saudi people have put forward Vision for reform that prioritizes respect for human rights,” Said joey sheaSaudi Arabia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The Saudi government should heed these calls.”
In November 2020, prominent Saudi human rights defenders, activists and intellectuals released for the first time “A People’s Approach to Reform in Saudi Arabia”, a document focusing on “human rights and social justice in Saudi Arabia as the most important benchmarks”. People’s vision for reform” was expressed. for improvement. The vision outlines 13 principles for Saudi Arabia to respect rights, including the release of all political prisoners, respect for the rights to freedom of expression and association, the protection of women’s rights, and the end of religious discrimination. Other.
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman has presided over the biggest crackdown on human rights in the country’s history. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented a number of egregious human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, including bootlegging. suppression of free civil society; arbitrary arrests of peaceful dissidents, public intellectuals and human rights defenders and activists, And this Punishment common people decades-long prison terms To post on social media.
Other concerns include abusive behavior in detention centers, including torture and other abuses; mass execution of prisoners after unfair trials; and illegal air strikes Which killed and injured thousands of civilians in Yemen.
“Amnesty International expresses its solidarity with Saudi activists advocating for human rights at home and abroad,” said Heba Morayef, Middle East and North Africa director at Amnesty International. “The Saudi Arabian authorities must acknowledge the important role played by civil society in public decision-making and the promotion and protection of human rights. The authorities should allow human rights defenders, activists, dissidents and non-governmental organizations to actively participate in decisions on human rights reforms in the country.