SAUDI ARABIA: TWO HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS ON TRIAL: MOHAMMAD AL-OTAIBI AND ADBULLAH AL-ATTAWI

By Amnesty International, 4 November 2016, Index number: MDE 23/5098/2016

Two co-founders of a Saudi Arabian human rights organization are on trial before the counter-terror court on charges related to their human rights work. Their next hearing is scheduled for 27 December. If detained they will be prisoners of conscience. More. . .

Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General to Yemen is currently looking for qualified candidates for Director, Political Affairs Director, Political Affairs, D2 – Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General to Yemen

Post #: 68064 Location: Amman, Jordan Deadline (midnight, New York time): 11th November 2016 Reference Link: https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=68064

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. More information on this vacancy can be found on the Job Opening page of INSPIRA portal https://inspira.un.org/

We kindly request your support in giving this announcement the widest possible circulation. Any assistance in identifying potentially suitable candidates is also highly appreciated.

More information on other vacancies can be found on our career portal http://careers.un.org.

With thanks for your time and efforts. Best regards, Outreach Unit Strategic Planning and Staffing Division Office of Human Resources Management United Nations New York Email: talentoutreach@un.org

CONGRATULATIONS TO

IBRAHIM AL MUGAITEEB

AND ALL WHO SUPPORT

HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST SOCIETY

On December 15th The Officer of the Order Merit Award was presented to Ibrahim Al Mugaiteeb by the French Ambassador, Bertrand Besancenot. The ceremony took place at the French Residence in Riyadh. French Ambassador Bertrand Besancenot said, “this is a special award given by the French President to honor people who have rendered outstanding military or civilian services for the benefit of the people. Ambassador Besancenot had this to say, “Al Mugaiteeb has rendered yeoman services to safeguard human rights and create an awareness among the people on how to respect human rights.” He added “Al Mugaiteeb has always stood for justice and fair play. He is a dedicated worker who always helped people in distress and extends his hands of care and love to those who need them.”

IBRAHIM ALMUGAITEEB, PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST SOCIETY IN SAUDI ARABIA, WAS AWARDED THE 2015 CHALLIOT PRIZE by the EU Delegation in Riyadh. The Ceremony took place on DECEMBER 14, 2015. The award was presented to Mr. Almugaiteeb by the European Union Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Adam Kulach.

Chaillot Prize History

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was presented to the United Nations General Assembly at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris and was adopted on the 10th of December 1948. Despite years of relentless commitment by individuals, private organisations and public institutions worldwide, the promotion of Human Rights is still as crucial as at the time of the Declaration. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in acknowledgment of the necessity of promoting Human Rights as well as highlighting positive developments in the Gulf region the regionally accredited European Union Delegation in Riyadh launched the Chaillot Prize in December 2008. The prize aims to reward activities, campaigns and actions which benefit progress in the field of Human Rights promotion and awareness in the Gulf countries of the GCC. The European Union works in close contact with the Embassies of the Member States of the European Union in organising the prize and determining the winning action, activity or campaign. Applications are accepted from local civil society groups, individuals and private or public institutions. The prize is awarded in a public ceremony in the presence of ambassadors and representatives of the European Union. The Delegation, through awarding of the Chaillot Prize, wishes to give recognition to the extra ordinary work that is done by institutions and individuals in the field of enhancement of human rights and aims to encourage such efforts in all the Gulf countries. Source… Saudi

Arabia: Three more executions add to unprecedented spike in death penalty 11 March 2015, 15:18 UTC AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Saudi Arabia is well on track to far surpass its previous annual execution records, Amnesty International warned after three more men were put to death this morning, bringing the total number of executions in the country to 44 so far this year. That is fully four times the number of people executed in the Gulf Kingdom during the same period last year – 11. Public beheading is the most common method of execution.“This unprecedented spike in executions constitutes a chilling race to the bottom for a country that is already among the most prolific executioners on the planet.” Said Boumedouha, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. Read More… in ENG AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL January 13, 2015

SENTENCE AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER UPHELD Saudi Arabian human rights defender and lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair has had his sentence upheld upon appeal and will be serving the full 15 years in prison. He is a prisoner of conscience. Waleed Abu al-Khair , a prominent human rights defender and lawyer, has had his sentence upheld upon appealby the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) in Riyadh on 12 January. The judge has also ordered that he now mustserve the full 15-year prison sentence because he has refused to apologize for his “offences”. In his original trial,Waleed Abu al-Khair was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but was ordered to serve only 10. He continues to refuserecognizing the legitimacy of the SCC. More…

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION 1/9/2015 RAIF BADAWI FLOGGED IN VICIOUS ACT OF CRUELTY Saudi Arabian activist Raif Badawi was publicly flogged on 9 January in front of the al-Jafali mosque in Jeddah. He is at risk of receiving the remaining 950 lashes over the coming weeks. Raif Badawi received his first set of 50 lashes on 9 January. According to a witness, he was removed from a bus in shackles and brought to the public square in front of the mosque after the prayers ended. Surrounded by a crowd made up of the public and a number of security officers, he received 50 consecutive lashes on his back and legs. The whole ordeal lasted around 15 minutes. Afterwards he was put back in the bus and taken away. It is feared that Raif Badawi will receive his next set of lashes within two weeks. According to the final court decision, he will be receiving no more than 50 lashes per session, with a break of no less than a week between sessions. Flogging violates the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment in international law. More . . .

AMNESTY 1/8/2015 URGENT ACTION Amnesty International received information that Raif Badawi will be flogged after the Friday prayers on 9 January in front of al-Jafali mosque in Jeddah. The flogging is to be carried out in public. Raif Badawi was sentenced by the Criminal Court in Jeddah on 7 May 2014 to 10-years in prison and 1,000 lashes, followed by a 10-year travel ban, a ban on using media outlets, and a fine of one million Saudi Arabian riyals (about US $266,600). The conviction and sentence stemmed from Raif Badawi’s creation of the Saudi Arabian Liberals website (which the court ordered to be closed) and the accusation that he had “insulted Islam”. The Court of Appeal in Jeddah upheld the sentence on 1 September. According to the final court decision, Raif Badawi will be receiving no more than 50 lashes per session, with a break of no less than a week between sessions. Raif Badawi was initially charged with “apostasy”, a crime that carries the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. More…

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