Alkarama for Human Rights

Saudi Arabia: Imminent execution of Mr Mohamed Al Shamari following unfair trial

Alkarama, 08 February 2012

On 31 January 2012, Alkarama received information from the family of Mr Mohamed Fahd Wajan Al Shamari, stating that King Abdallah of Saudi Arabia had approved the decision to execute Mr Al Shamari after he was subjected to an unfair trial.

Mr Al Shamari was arrested on 11 February 2007 and remained in detention until he was sentenced to death on 7 February 2009. His trial did not respect the fair trial standards as it referred to confessions under under torture. This included witnesses who testified against Mr Al Shamari during the investigations phase, who later confirmed during the trial that they have been forced to make false testimonies against Mr Al Shamari.

Saudi Arabia: Khaled Al Khedairy detained more than six years without charge

Alkarama, 02 February 2012

Mr Khaled Al Khedairy was arrested on 4 July 2005 and remains in detention without legal procedures until this day, six and a half years after his arrest. The Saudi citizen and father of five children was arrested in Al Salihiya District, Riyadh, by agents of the Mabahith, the Saudi investigative police. He did not get a chance to inform his family of his arrest and they looked for him in local hospitals and police stations for three days, before they finally heard that Mr Al Khedairy had been brought to Alisha Prison.

Human rights defenders, politicians, journalists and academics call on France to free Alkarama Executive Director

Alkarama, 01 February 2012

Dozens of French, Arab and Western personalities petition the French Prime Minister, François Fillon, to ensure that Dr Mourad Dhina, detained for over two weeks in France on a politically motivated request from the Algerian government, is not extradited to Algeria and is rapidly released. This follows an open letter sent to the Prime Minister last Tuesday, 26 January, by eleven French and International NGOs requesting "to release him immediately".

Over 60 people had already signed the «petition to FreeMourad», which can be found on the #FreeMourad website, before it was officially opened to public signature this morning.

United Arab Emirates: Attacks on Freedom of Expression Continue, Al Zaidi and Bin Abbad affected

Alkarama, 31 January 2012

Attacks on the freedom of expression worsened in the Emirates in 2011, stated Alkarama in a communication to the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression today. The communication detailed human rights violations carried out against whistleblowers from the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) Faisal Al Zaidi and Rachid Bin Abbad who denounced corruption within the company. The communication also described a number of other incidents in the country in which authorities have tried to restrain criticism of governmental policies.

Egypt: Maikel Nabil Sanad released after 10 months of arbitrary detention

Alkarama, 27 January 2012

Maikel Nabil Sanad, considered the first prisoner of conscience since the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak, was released on Tuesday 24 January 2012, a day before the anniversary of the outbreak of the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Mr Sanad, a well known blogger and critic of military rule, was detained for 10 month following an unfair trial before a military court.

Detention of Dr Dhina: NGOs send letter to French PM, launch online campaign

Alkarama, 24 January 2012

freemurad Ten International NGOs today sent a joint open letter to French Prime Minister, François Fillon, requesting that Dr Mourad Dhina, Alkarama's Executive Director and a leading figure in the Algerian political opposition, not be extradited to Algeria, where he faces potential arbitrary detention and torture.

Dr Dhina was arrested on 16 January 2012 at Paris-Orly airport by French police responding to an international arrested warrant issued by the Algerian authorities in 2003, which claims that he belonged to an armed terrorist group active in Zurich and in Switzerland during the late 90s.

France: Human Rights Organisations Call for Refusal of Dr Mourad Dhina Extradition Request by Algerian Authorities

Alkarama, 24 January 2012

A coalition of eleven international and national NGOs today addressed French Prime Minister François Fillon in a public letter calling for Alkarama's executive director Dr Mourad Dhina not be extradited to Algeria, where he risks torture. The Prime Minister is responsible for signing off on extradition requests.

Egypt: Exceptions to Ending Emergency Law Invite Abuse

Mnervi, 24 January 2012

Immediately Free Emergency Law Detainees, Transfer Cases to Regular Courts

January 24, 2012

(New York) – The Egyptian military's announcement on January 24, 2012, that it will lift the state of emergency except in cases of "thuggery" is an invitation to continued abuse, Alkarama and Human Rights Watch said today. The two rights groups said that the government should use the regular penal code and civilian criminal courts to address alleged criminal activity. It should also repeal Law 34, which criminalizes participation in strikes during a state of emergency.

Alkarama Executive Director arrested at Paris-Orly

Alkarama, 17 January 2012

French police arrested Dr Mourad Dhina yesterday at Paris-Orly airport at the request of the Algerian authorities.

Dhina, Executive Director of Swiss-based Arab human rights NGO Alkarama, was in Paris attenting a board meeting of Rachad, an Algerian political opposition movement, of which Dhina is a founding member.

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