In 2008, the government of Saudi Arabia established the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) under the guise of prosecuting terrorism-related cases. In the seven years since its inception, however, the court has used anti-terrorism legislation to target human rights activists and government critics. The new Penal Law for Crimes of Terrorism and its Financing allows the[…]
13
Jan
Jan
13 January 2014 – Today, the Specialized Criminal Court of Saudi Arabia ordered human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair to complete his fifteen year prison sentence without the possibility of parole after he refused to show remorse or recognize the legitimacy of the court. Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain and the Bahrain[…]
08
Jan
Jan
08 January 2015 – On 12 January 2015, the public prosecutor of Saudi Arabia will again present his case against human rights defender Waleed Abu al-Khair in an appellate proceeding at the Saudi Specialized Criminal Court. The government seeks to obtain a harsher sentence on charges for which Abu al-Khair has already been convicted and[…]
17
Nov
Nov
On 14 November 2014, six leading human rights NGOs held a discussion in Washington, DC on human rights violations by Gulf countries that are partners of the United States in the fight against ISIS. “Criminalization of Dissent in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates” put the focus on countries which routinely jail those who advocate democratic reform and[…]
27
Oct
Oct
27 October 2014 – Washington, D.C. – Today, 26 multi-faith organizations sent a letter to King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia urging him to pardon Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr. The renowned Shia cleric and human rights defender was sentenced to death, and possible crucifixion, on 15 October by the Saudi Specialized Criminal Court. He was found guilty of vague[…]
