On February 3, 2007, at 3 am, Sulaiman al-Rashudi and Essam al-Basrawi, lawyers, ans also Mr. Saud al-Hashimi, a doctor, Messrs. Musa al-Qirni and Abdel Rahman al-Shumayri, university professors, and Messrs. Abdelaziz al-Khariji and Al-Sharif Saif Al-Ghalib, whose profession remain unknown,  were arrested and placed in incommunicado detention.

While some were arrested in Madinah city, others were arrested by officials of the General Intelligence Service in a residential area called “Bahra”, in Jeddah city, were they had met to discuss the organisation of peaceful activities in favour of political and democratic reforms in the Kingdom. The same officials also raided the house of Mr. Essam al-Basrawi and confiscated several books and computer units belonging to him and his family. The officials would also have destroyed some furniture and some personal belongings of the family.

All men are well-known for their peaceful activities. Sulaiman al-Rashudi and Essam al-Basrawi were among the team of lawyers who defended the three " constitutional reformers " during their trials of 2004-2005) for the whole process of trials before and after the verdict and up to the release .

Sulaiman al-Rushudi was one of the cofounders in London in May 1993 of the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights (CDLR; Arabic: لجنة الدفاع عن الحقوق الشرعية), a  Sunnite Muslim group opposed to the ruling Saud dynasty in Saudi Arabia suspected to be closely linked to Osama Bin Laden. He was arrested in September 1994 along with several clerics and was detained for several years.

Essam al-Basrawi is a handicapped person and who without this guy's help and assistance would not be able to move any where , including going to bathroom. A well-known lawyer in Saudi Arabia, especially in Al-hijaz Region, he signed and supported strongly both reform documents :  the first one , titled " A Vision for the Present and Future of the Homeland " , formulated and sent January 2003 , and widely , and briefly has been known as " The Vision " . The second one, titled " " A National call for Both the Leadership & People: A constitutional Reform first "which was formulated & then sent on 16-12-2003.

The men would reportedly be suspected of “illegally collecting money and passing them on to suspicious elements outside the country”.

On February 5, 2007, Mr. Essam Basrawi’s son was denied the right to visit his father, ordered to return home and warned to never ask again to meet his father. He wanted to hand him some medicine, as Mr. Essam Basrawi is ill and disabled.

According to the information received, as of March 23, 2007, Messrs. Sulaiman al-Rashudi, Essam al-Basrawi, Saud al-Hashimi, Messrs. Musa al-Qirni and Abdel Rahman al-Shumayri, and Messrs. Abdelaziz al-Khariji and Al-Sharif Saif Al-Ghalib  were remaining in incommunicado detention in the offices of the General Intelligence Service (al-Mabahith al-‘Amma) in Jeddah.

Moreover, since their arrest, neither their lawyers nor their relatives were granted access to the detainees, despite their repeated requests.

Although the men are reportedly suspected of “illegally collecting money and funnelling funds to suspicious elements outside the country”, no official charge was brought against them.

It is important to outline that Mr. Basem Alam, one of their lawyers, is also subjected to acts of harassment due to his involvement in this case. For instance, he was prevented from leaving the country by the authorities about three weeks ago.

The Observatory expresses its deep concern about the ongoing incommunicado detention of these ten men, which appears to be solely aimed at sanctioning their human rights activities, and fears for their physical and psychological integrity.

Background information:

Action requested:

Please write to the authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia urging them to:

i. Guarantee, in all circumstances, the psychological and physical integrity of Messrs. Sulieman al-Rushudi, Essam al-Basrawi, Saud al-Hashimi, Al-Sharif Saif Al-Ghalib, Musa al-Qirni, Abdel Rahman al-Shumayri, Abdelaziz al-Khariji and all persons detained;

ii. Guarantee their right to receive visit and communicate with their lawyers and relatives;

iii. Release them immediately and unconditionally since their detention is arbitrary;

iv. Put an end to all acts of harassment against the ten above-mentioned men, as well as their lawyer, Mr. Basem Alam, and all other human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia;

v. Conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels” and article 12.2, which states that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”;

vi. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards ratified by Saudi Arabia.

Addresses:

* 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: + 966 1 403 1185 * His Royal Highness Prince Naif bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Al-Saud, Minister of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior, P.O. Box 2933, Airport Road, Riyadh 11134, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Fax: +966 1 403 1185 / +966 1 403 3614 * His Royal Highness Prince Saud al-Faisal bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Al-Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasseriya Street, Riyadh 11124, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Fax: +966 1 403 0645 * Abdulwahab Abdulsalam Attar, Ambassador, Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Route de Lausanne 263, 1292 Chambésy, Switzerland, Email: saudiamission@bluewin.ch, Fax: +4122 758.00.00 * Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Brussels, 45 avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium, Fax: + 32 2 647.24.92, Email: beemb@mofa.gov.sa

Please also write to the diplomatic representations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in your respective countries.