UPDATED: UN Special Procedures Publishes Urgent Appeal on the Ill Treatment of Female Detainees at the UAE Al-Wathba prison

***On 4 May 2019, United Arab Emirates (UAE) prisoner Alia Abdulnoor died in custody following a battle with terminal breast cancer. On 12 February 2019, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human[…]

The US must end its arms trade with Saudi Arabia

On 26 March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition announced it would launch airstrikes against targets in Yemen in an effort to defend and support the elected government run by President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi. From the beginning of the coalition’s engagement through August 2018, the UN estimates that the coalition – with significant levels of United[…]

UPDATED Profiles in Persecution: Abbas al-Hassan Executed

**Update 23 April 2019 – Today, the Saudi government carried out the executions of 37 men, including Abbas al-Hassan. His case had drawn the attention of UN Special Procedures. The executions were reportedly carried out without prior notice to the families.  Abbas al-Hassan was a Saudi citizen and father of four from the Shia majority[…]

Saudi Mistreatment of Rohingya Refugees in Detention

Rohingya Muslims residing in a Saudi Arabian detention center launched their third hunger strike according to Al Jazeera. The strike was launched to protest the poor conditions within the Saudi detention centers. Authorities have reacted by threatening to deprive strikers of water and taking away necessities like pillows, shirts, and other essential items. Saudi Arabia[…]

UN Special Procedures Publishes Urgent Appeal on Man At Risk of Deportation from UAE

On 17 January 2019, the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions sent an Urgent Appeal (ARE 1/2019) to the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) highlighting concerns for the arrest and potential deportation of Pakistani national Rashid Hussain Brohi. Brohi[…]