“Amnesty International” demands that Saudi Arabia immediately release a Yemeni-Dutch national “arrested due to a leaked message.”

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On Wednesday, Amnesty International demanded that the Saudi authorities immediately release Fahd Ramadan, a Yemeni-Dutch citizen, “arbitrarily detained without charge or legal representation for over six months.”

In a report on its website, the organization stated that “on November 20, 2023, two days after his arrival in Saudi Arabia, Ramadan received a call from the Criminal Investigation Department in Jeddah, asking him to go to the police station without further explanation.”

It explained that “upon his arrival at the police station the same day, the security forces arbitrarily detained him without giving a reason or allowing him to contact a lawyer. He was allowed a brief phone call with his wife, but was not permitted to inform her of his location.”

In May, Ramadan told his family that he was not receiving adequate medical care for his diabetes, according to the organization.

The human rights organization ALQST reported that Ramadan’s arrest came after private messages on WhatsApp, in which he criticized Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, were leaked.

Dagmar Oudshoorn, Director of Amnesty International in the Netherlands, said, “It is unfortunate that the Saudi authorities have detained Fahd Ramadan for more than six months without charging him or giving him an opportunity to challenge his detention, while also depriving him of adequate medical care and legal representation.”

She added, “In January, Ramadan’s family appointed a lawyer who attempted to visit him in prison but was not allowed to see him. According to the family, the prison authorities told the lawyer not to interfere in the case.”

She continued, “The Saudi authorities must release Ramadan immediately unless there is evidence suggesting his involvement in a criminal offense that does not violate international human rights laws and standards.”

She concluded that while “awaiting his release,” it is crucial to ensure “Ramadan receives adequate medical care, legal representation, and regular visits from the Dutch embassy in Riyadh.”

According to the organization, Ramadan was born in Saudi Arabia and returned there on November 18, 2023, to gather documents to complete his citizenship application in the Netherlands, where he had been granted asylum since 2018.

After his arrest on November 20, the organization noted that “the Saudi authorities detained Ramadan from November 21, 2023, to January 1, 2024, when his sister was allowed to visit him. At that time, he informed her that his interrogation had ended, but he had not received any legal representation and was unaware of any formal charges against him.”

Given the Kingdom’s poor record on arbitrary detention, the organization emphasized that it is crucial for Dutch authorities to call for Ramadan’s immediate release and ensure his safe return to the Netherlands.

Amnesty International noted that in February 2024, Ramadan was granted Dutch citizenship. Officials from the Dutch embassy in Riyadh were allowed to visit him in prison on March 21. He informed them that a few years ago, he had expressed sympathy online for a critic of the Saudi royal family, which he believes is the reason for his arrest.

Amnesty International has documented the increasing crackdown by Saudi authorities on freedom of expression, targeting both citizens and foreigners alike. Many have been sentenced to long prison terms merely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly. This includes criticism of the government and its policies.

The organization pointed out that legal proceedings in these cases fall far short of international fair trial standards. Individuals are often held incommunicado without charge, in solitary confinement, and are denied access to lawyers or courts to challenge the legality of their detention.

Source: Al Hurra