Saudi Arabia

Women activists in Saudi Arabia who fought for the right to drive face 20 years in prison. Reports suggest they have been tortured and abused in detention.

After years of campaigning, the ban on driving for women in Saudi Arabia has been lifted. But in a cruel twist, the women who bravely fought for this right have been arrested and branded ‘traitors’.

Some of these women have been provisionally released, showing the authorities are listening. Email Saudi Arabia demanding that the rest are also returned home, and all charges are dropped.

Free Saudi women who fought for the right to drive

Raif vigil
Raif vigil
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The UK is trading away its credibility in its relations with Saudi Arabia and China

Shady deals and blanket silence speak volumes about the UK's attitude towards the importance of human rights when it comes to talking business with the likes of Saudi Arabia and China.
Mounds erected for public executions in a square in Saudi Arabia.
Mounds erected for public executions in a square in Saudi Arabia.
Article

An execution every two days: Saudi Arabia's surge in killings

In the first six months of 2015, Saudi Arabia has executed more people than in all of last year.

The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to claim they only use the death penalty for the ‘most serious crimes’, and only after thorough judicial proceedings. We don't agree.
Protest to free Raif Badawi in London, February 2015
Protest to free Raif Badawi in London, February 2015
Blog

Raif Badawi, Saudi Arabia's political football

The UK is the first foreign country to host one of Saudi Arabia's biggest football tournaments. It seems like our cosy business relationship with Saudi Arabian once again comes before human rights concerns...

Has the UK forgotten about Raif Badawi and all the other prisoners of conscience?
Via provence___provenza on Flickr, used under Creative Commons 2.0 license
Via provence___provenza on Flickr, used under Creative Commons 2.0 license
Blog

Salman at the beach: the Saudi king’s commandeering of a stretch of the French Riviera is hardly crime of the century

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and a party of 400 others on holiday with him have closed off a beach in the French Riviera so they can soak up the sun in peace.

But any outrage over the beach's closure is a storm in a sand bucket when you remember the regime's practices at home.
Raif Badawi
Raif Badawi
Take action

This could be Raif’s chance – ask for his freedom

Raif Badawi has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for more than 3 years now.

The end of the holy month of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr festival is traditionally a time when some prisoners are released. Ask the King of Saudi Arabia to free Raif and all prisoners of conscience.
Raif Badawi with his children
Raif Badawi with his children
Blog

This Father’s Day, send a message of support to Raif Badawi and his family

It's been three years since Raif Badawi's children last saw their dad - and if the Saudi Arabian authorities have their way, it will be 19 years before they are reunited.
Raif Badawi and Ensaf Haidar
Raif Badawi and Ensaf Haidar
Blog

My family’s torture – dealing with Raif Badawi’s flogging

"The day Raif was sent to prison I decided that I had two choices: to be weak, give up and hide in a corner weeping, or to stay strong and fight for Raif’s freedom."

Ensaf Haidar says she still shocked by the severity of her husband's sentence. She writes about how she keeps hope, despite the nightmare of his sentence.
Raif Badawi at home in 2011
Raif Badawi at home in 2011
Action

Raif’s lashes could resume tomorrow – we need your urgent help

We are concerned that Raif Badawi, the imprisoned Saudi Arabian blogger, will be flogged tomorrow morning.

Raif's sentence was upheld and confirmed by courts earlier this week, and we fear authorities will immediately resume punishing him with 50 lashes in public every Friday. Ask the Saudi Arabian Embassy to stop the flogging.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Ten ways that Saudi Arabia violates human rights

Raif Badawi is now known worldwide as the blogger Saudi Arabia flogged for advocating free speech, but he is just one of many people punished for exercising their human rights in the Kingdom.

We list some of the rights denied by King Salman's regime in Saudi Arabia today.
Soni Sori © Garima Jain/Tehelka
Soni Sori © Garima Jain/Tehelka
Blog

The bravest women in the world

One in three women in the world will be subjected to violence during her lifetime - just because she was born a girl.
We take a look at six brave women activists who keep fighting to defend human rights for other women and girls - at great risk to themselves. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, these are some of the bravest women in the human rights world.
Protesters outside the Saudi Embassy ask Saudi Arabia to free Raif Badawi
Protesters outside the Saudi Embassy ask Saudi Arabia to free Raif Badawi
Blog

50 days since 50 lashes - why won't Saudi Arabia release Raif Badawi?

What has become of the Saudi Arabian blogger?

50 days after his public flogging, we look at how Raif's case has become known around the world - and yet Saudi Arabia still refuses to release him. Meanwhile, our own government shames itself by not publicly calling for Raif's freedom.
King Abdullah Bin Abdull-Aziz Al-Saud
King Abdullah Bin Abdull-Aziz Al-Saud
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Who's commemorating the victims of King Abdullah's regime?

World leaders have been quick to express their condolences for the late King of Saudi Arabia, heralding him as a great reformer and champion of rights.

Will no one speak up for the many victims of his regime who continue to languish in jail simply for driving a car, saying what they think, or challenging the regime's political rhetoric?
Kate Allan being interviewed by the BBC at a protest to free Raif Badawi, Feb 15
Kate Allan being interviewed by the BBC at a protest to free Raif Badawi, Feb 15
Blog

Why aren't UK ministers manning the free speech barricades for Raif Badawi?

The UK government seems to consider itself a staunch defender of free speech. And while government ministers have been quick to condemn the attacks on Charlie Hebdo staff in Paris, they have refused to call on Saudi Arabia to release blogger Raif Badawi, imprisoned and flogged for advocating free speech and debate.
Blog

The dark side of the planet: where the death penalty is king

To all those keen on bringing back capital punishment to the UK, to all those who believe it is a foolproof system that can deter crime and deliver justice - there are a few things we'd like to point out to you.
Our latest research reveals some dark truths about the unjust nature of the death penalty.
UN 'Women should...' Campaign image. Copyright: United Nations
UN 'Women should...' Campaign image. Copyright: United Nations
Blog

What do UN Women and the Great British Bake Off have in common?

Karla's a fan of both international non-governmental advocacy body UN Women and cosy Wednesday night telly sensation Great British Bake Off. Both have inspired discussions on the issue of sexism in society this week. Our women's rights campaigner blogs on the global problem.