Together for Justice Voices Concern over Deliberate Medical Negligence inside Saudi Jails
Together for Justice expressed deep concern over the continued arbitrary detention of Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Hamid in Saudi notorious jails despite his critical health condition that needs adequate medical care.
Abdulrahman Hamid Al Hamid is a Saudi human rights defender and co-founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA).
On April 12, 2014, Al Hamid signed a statement along with other activists calling for the Minister of Interior to be put on trial “for his policy of suppressing public freedoms.” As a result, he was arrested on April 17, 2014. He was initially detained incommunicado for a month and was detained in pre-trial detention for almost a year.
He was sentenced on October 13, 2015, to nine years in prison followed by a nine-year travel ban, and a fine of 50,000 Saudi Riyals (≈ 13,300 USD) by the SCC.
He was convicted of offences including “incitement against public order and spreading chaos by taking part in drafting and publishing a statement that called for demonstrations”, “disrespecting the judicial authorities” and “participating in setting up an unlicensed organisation (ACPRA)”.
He is currently being held in Malaz criminal prison, suffering from different health problems including diabetes. His difficult health situation requires a special diet and medical services.
Created in 2009 by 11 human rights defenders and academics, ACPRA was established to promote and protect fundamental rights and freedoms in Saudi Arabia. While ACPRA was never legally recognised by the government, it was formally banned as an organisation in 2013.
As of May 2016, all of its 11 members had been prosecuted and subjected to severe treatment by Saudi authorities for their human rights activism and cooperation with the United Nations human rights mechanisms.
We warn of the serious implications of the continued detention of Al-Hamid in inhumane conditions, as we hold the Saudi authorities responsible for his safety.
We also call on the United Nations agencies to intervene urgently and send supervisory committees to Saudi prisons to check on the political prisoners’ detention conditions and to work for their immediate release.
