On Friday 15 March 2024, during the 55th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), ALQST's Head of Monitoring and Advocacy Lina Alhathloul delivered a joint oral statement on behalf of ALQST, Right Livelihood and MENA Rights Group, addressing Saudi Arabia's deteriorating human rights situation and calling on the HRC to urge the Saudi authorities to end the ongoing persecution of activists. The statement can be read in full below:

Mr. President, 
 
Right Livelihood, ALQST for Human Rights and MENA Rights Group express deep concern at the systematic human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. 
 
Saudi Arabians are now living in a police state, with no civic freedoms, no formal constitution or criminal code. There, 2024 is likely to remain a year of repression, as human rights defenders languish in prison and draconian counter-terrorism and cybercrime laws continue to be used against anyone exercising their fundamental freedoms.

Those defending basic human rights are not only facing extremely lengthy sentences, such as Salma al-Shehab but are subjected to torture and inhumane treatment. Right Livelihood Laureate Waleed Abu al-Khair, who is serving a 15-year sentence for his activism, has been routinely subjected to beatings,  solitary confinement and medical neglect. We deplore the authorities' recent denial of a hospital transfer for medical treatment that he needs.

In addition, human rights defenders who complete their sentences, see them extended or face enforced disappearance, such as Mohammed al-Qahtani, forcibly disappeared since October 2022.

Mr President, 
 
The plight of Saudi Arabians must not be forgotten. We thus call on the Council to urge Saudi Arabia to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, stop its persecution of peaceful activists and unconditionally release all human rights defenders arbitrarily detained.      
 
Thank you.