Mohammed Saleh al-Bejadi
Mohammed Saleh al-Bejadi[1] | |
---|---|
Born | 1980 or 1981 (age 43–44)[2] or 1977 or 1978 (age 45–46)[3] |
Nationality | Saudi |
Known for | co-founding of ACPRA[4] |
Children | 1 daughter[2] |
Mohammed Saleh al-Bejadi
He was arrested 21 March 2011,[5][8][9] and on 11 March 2015 he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.[10]
He was released later in 2015, only to be arrested again in May 2018.[11]
Human rights activities
2007–2008
In 2007, al-Bejadi contacted international media about a sit-in held in front of a provincial governmental authority and calling for the release of prisoners. He was "detained in solitary confinement without charge or trial" from 4 September 2007 to 1 January 2008. He was released "on the condition that he would not organise any fora or gatherings, nor contact any foreign press."[6]
2009
In 2009, al-Bejadi managed a
ACPRA
In 2009, al-Bejadi and 10 other Saudi
2011–2015 detention
On 21 March 2011, during the
Al-Bejadi was held for four months in solitary confinement and allowed a few minutes each week to telephone to his wife. He was shifted to a 4 metres (13 ft) by 6 metres (20 ft) cell with 9 other prisoners and "bright lighting all day and night". He was denied access to a doctor for 7 months.[3]
In August 2011, al-Bejadi appeared in the Specialized Criminal Court on charges of "insurrection against the ruler, instigating demonstrations, and speaking with foreign [media] channels."[13] Judge al-'Abd al-Latif prevented al-Bejadi's defence lawyers from attending the August trial session.[13] On 3 October 2011, he appeared at a secret meeting of a court which journalists and human rights activists could not attend, on charges of "membership in a banned association, the possession of prohibited books and the intent to harm the reputation of the country".[3]
As of 12 March 2012[update], 38 people planned a 2-day public hunger strike on 15–16 March 2012, coordinated by ACPRA, calling for al-Bejadi's release.[5][9] According to ACPRA[14] and Human Rights Watch,[15] al-Bejadi joined the hunger strike himself, and as of 11 April 2012 had been on hunger strike for nearly a month. ACPRA stated that it believed al-Bejadi's life to be in danger, as he had stopped taking water.[14] The Ministry of Interior denied the report, saying that al-Bejadi was "in good health".[16]
On 10 April 2012, al-Bejadi was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and a five-year ban on foreign travel.[15] He was released in 2015.[11]
2016–present
Following his 2015 release, al-Bejadi stopped public aspects of his human rights advocacy. On 26 October 2016, he wrote a "final tweet", stating, "I will stop writing and participating on all social media accounts for reasons that are not unknown to all of you."[17]
On 24 May 2018, during the 2018–2019 Saudi crackdown on feminists, al-Bejadi was again arrested.[11][17]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) (An Establishing Declaration) — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Monday, October 12, 2009". Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association. 12 October 2009. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ^ a b c "URGENT HRFS STATEMENT: HRFS calls for the immediate release of Mr. Mohammad Albjadi". Human Rights First Society. 2012. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Action Alert: Saudi Arabia –Call for the release of activist Muhammad Salih al-Bejadi". Islamic Human Rights Commission. 11 December 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- ^ a b "While the Saudi elite looks nervously abroad, a revolution is happening". The Guardian. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- ^ a b c "Saudis to go on hunger strike against activist detention". Gulf News/Thomson Reuters. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Obstacles to freedom of movement". FIDH. 14 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Saudi Arabia detains women protesters". Amnesty International. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- ^ a b c "ACPRA demands the immediate unconditional release of its co-founder, Mohammed Al-Bjady". Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association. March 2011. Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- ^ Agence France Presse. 12 March 2012. Archived from the originalon 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- ^ Saudi Arabia jails human rights activist Mohammed al-Bajadi
- ^ a b c Saudi Arabia arrests key activist in human rights crackdown, 25 May 2018 The Guardian
- ^ "Amnesty joins calls to free Saudi 'hunger striker'". Agence France-Presse. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ a b "World Report 2012: Saudi Arabia". Human Rights Watch. 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Saudi activist on hunger strike 'in danger'". Al Jazeera. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Saudi Arabia: Abolish Terrorism Court". Human Rights Watch. 27 April 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia denies activist on hunger strike". BBC News. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Saudi Arabia: 2 New Arrests of Activists". Human Rights Watch. 30 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.