URGENT ACTION

QATARI FATHER AND SON DISAPPEARED

On 18 August 2019, the family of two Qatari men, Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah (70) and his son Abdulhadi Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah (17) lost all contact with them as the two men travelled through Saudi Arabia to visit relatives. The father and son entered Saudi Arabia on 15 August on family visas and were on their way to Dammam. Amnesty International is concerned that they may have been forcibly disappeared.  

TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER

His Majesty King Salman 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 11 403 3125 
 
Your Majesty King Salman,

On 15 August 2019, two Qatari men, Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah (70) and his son Abdulhadi Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah (17), entered Saudi Arabia on valid family visas on their way to visit Ali Jarallah’s brother in Dammam, in the Eastern Province. The two men were in contact with their family in Qatar until 18 August, when they were nearing the city of al-Hofuf in the Eastern Province. Since then all communication was lost and they disappeared. 

Ali Jarallah is diabetic and suffers from heart and kidney problems as well as high blood pressure. He is on regular medication and must attend his regular doctor’s appointments in Doha.

According to a trusted source, there are good reasons to believe that the father and son may have been arbitrarily detained by the Presidency of State Security.

We therefore call on your Majesty to immediately reveal the whereabouts of Ali Jarallah and his son Abdulhadi Jarallah; and if detained, to disclose the reason for their detention, and release them unless they are promptly charged with a recognizable criminal offence, in accordance with the principles of due process recognized by international law. In the meantime, Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah must be immediately granted all medical access his situation requires.

Yours sincerely,

Additional information

Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah (aged 70), and his son Abdulhadi (aged 17) are Qatari nationals who entered Saudi Arabia on a family visa on 15 August 2019. They were on their way to visit Ali Jarallah’s brother in Dammam. On 18 August, the two contacted their family in Qatar to inform them that they were nearing al-Hofuf city. Following this last contact, their phone remained connected a further three days, but they did not reply to calls and messages. Their phones were disconnected afterwards. 
The father, uncle and son have no history of problematic issues with the Saudi authorities. Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah’s brother also holds the Saudi nationality.
On 26 August, a tweet carrying a recent video of Ali Jarallah and his son Abdulhadi along with a number of unidentified men was circulated. The tweet was subsequently deleted. The video is filmed in a white room that contains a hospital bed, with high small windows, and is fitted with a surveillance camera. In the video, Ali Jarallah says: “Had they detained me for a reason, there wouldn’t be a problem.” The other men in the room are heard asking him whether he is doing well. It is unknown who, when and where the video was taken. 
The diplomatic crisis between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that began in June 2017 persists. Sanctions imposed by these states against Qatar separated multinational families, cut short international students’ education, eliminated cross-border jobs, and caused a rise in food prices in Qatar that was detrimental for low income classes, especially migrant workers. 

PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: Arabic/ English
You can also write in your own language.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 15 October 2019 
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.

NAME AND PREFERRED PRONOUN: Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah (him/his) and Abdulhadi Ali Nasser Ali Jarallah (him/his)  

Additional targets

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

HIS EXCELLENCY HRH Prince Khalid Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Al-Saud  Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia 30 Charles Street, Mayfair W1J 5DZ  020 7917 3000

Please check with your section before sending appeals after the above date.