Urgent Action
UA: 304/11 Index: MDE 23/026/2011 Issue Date: 13 October 2011
Human rights activist Fadhel Maki al-Manasif was rearrested on 2 October 2011 in the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia, less then two months after his release. He is believed to be held in virtual incommunicado detention, putting him at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.
Fadhel Maki al-Manasif, aged 26, was rearrested on 2 October 2011 at a police checkpoint between the towns of al-Awwamiya and Safwa in the Eastern Province, and taken to Safwa police station. He was later transferred to al-Dhahran police station and detained in solitary confinement and without access to the outside world until 10 October, when he was transferred again to the General Intelligence Prison in the neighbouring city of Dammam, the capital of the Eastern Province. The exact reasons for his arrest are unknown, although it is feared that he may be detained because of his human rights activism.
Since his arrest Fadhel Maki al-Manasif was allowed to call his family once on 10 October to inform them of his place of detention. He has not been allowed visits from his family and lawyer and as such, is believed to be virtually held incommunicado, putting him at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.
Fadhel Maki al-Manasif was previously arrested on 1 May 2011 in connection with protests in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. He was released on 22 August 2011 after allegedly signing a pledge that he will not participate in protests again.
According to sources in Saudi Arabia, Fadhel Maki al-Manasif has been vocal in raising human rights concerns about the treatment of members of the Sh’ia minority in Saudi Arabia, including discrimination against them and the detention of individuals from the community without charge or trial for years. Amnesty International believes he may be a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression.
Please write immediately in Arabic, English or your own language:
- Urging the Saudi Arabian authorities to ensure that Fadhel Maki al-Manasif is protected from torture or other ill-treatment, given regular access to his family, lawyers of his own choosing and any adequate medical care he may require;
- Calling on them to release him immediately and unconditionally if he is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression;
- Asking them to make public the details of any charges he faces, and ensure that any legal proceedings against him conform to international fair trial standards.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 24 NOVEMBER TO:
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
King
His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques
Office of His Majesty the King
Royal Court, Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: (via Ministry of the Interior)
+966 1 403 3125 (please keep trying)
Salutation: Your Majesty
Governor of Eastern Province
Prince Muhammad bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Eastern Province
King Abdel-Aziz Street
Dammam 31179
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: +966 3 833 4000
Email: info sharqiah.gov.sa
Salutation: Your Royal Highness
And copies to:
Director General of the Directorate of General Investigation
General Abdul Aziz bin Muhammad al-Huwairaini
Ministry of Interior
P.O. Box: 2844, Riyadh 11461
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: +966 3 813 1345
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.
Ambassade du Royaume d’Arabie saoudite
Avenue F.D.Roosevelt 45
1050 Bruxelles
eMail: beemb mofa.gov.sa
Fax 02.647.24.92
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Fadhel Maki al-Manasif was previously arrested on 1 May 2011 at the police station when he reported to them in al-Awwamiya, Saudi Arabia. On 4 May, he was moved to al-Khobar prison, also in the Eastern Province, where he was allowed to see his family and lawyer twice a week. On 18 May, he was transferred to the General Intelligence Prison in Dammam, the capital of the Eastern Province, where he was detained incommunicado again until his release.
On 22 August, Fadhel al-Manasif was conditionally released. According to sources in Saudi Arabia, he has signed a pledge that he will not participate in protests again. His exact legal status is not known and it is not clear if he is facing a court case.
The Saudi Arabian authorities have generally not tolerated dissent and protests have not been allowed. Those who try to organize or participate in them are often arrested, held incommunicado without charge and denied access to the courts to challenge the lawfulness of their detention.
After a protest against the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip launched on 27 December 2008, reports indicated that a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior made an explicit announcement on 30 December 2008 that protests were banned in Saudi Arabia. Following the protests at the beginning of March 2011 in al-Qatif (see UA 61/11, 7 March 2011, MDE23/005/2011) and amid reports that further protests calling for reform in Saudi Arabia were planned, the Ministry of Interior issued a statement on 5 March confirming the ban on demonstrations. According to the statement, security forces would take “all necessary measures” against those who attempt to disrupt order.
The following day, the Council of Senior Ulema (religious scholars) also emphasized the prohibition of demonstrations in the country. They forbade and warned against using demonstrations or other means that, according to them, stir discord and division in society, and stated that these were not the appropriate means for calling for reform or giving advice. On the same day, the consultative Shura Council (appointed by the King) stressed the importance of preserving the security of the Kingdom and ignoring misleading calls for the organization of demonstrations, sit-ins and marches, which, they argued, were incompatible with the principles of Islamic law.
Critics of the Saudi Arabian government face gross human rights violations. They are often held incommunicado without charge, sometimes in solitary confinement, denied access to lawyers or the courts to challenge the lawfulness of their detention. Torture or other ill-treatment are frequently used to extract “confessions” from detainees, to punish them for refusing to “repent”, or to force them to make undertakings not to criticize the government. Incommunicado detention in Saudi Arabia often lasts until a “confession” is obtained, which can take months and occasionally years.
For more information on Fadhel Maki al-Manasif’s first detention and release please see: Saudi Arabia: Human rights activist detained after protest (Index: MDE 23/009/2011), 25 March 2011 at www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE23/009/2011/en and Saudi Arabia: Further information: Human rights activist released (Index: MDE 23/022/2011), 9 September 2011 at www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE23/022/2011/en
Name: Fadhel Maki al-Manasif
Gender m/f: M
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