Human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia have been subjected to threats, harassment, restrictions on travel, denial of legal registration, loss of employment, arbitrary detention, torture, fabricated prosecutions and prolonged imprisonment. Saudi Arabia does not possess a penal code or constitution which guarantees even the most basic human rights. Women in particular are subject to harsh restrictions throughout their daily lives. Freedom of speech and of assembly is severely limited. Saudi Arabia is not a signatory of either the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights or the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Human rights defenders work under the intense scrutiny of the secret police or al-mabahith. They face harassment, arbitrary detention, unfair trials and torture whilst under interrogation. Even in the privacy of their homes, HRDs have been unable to conduct workshops without the threat of police intervention. Close associates and family members of HRDs are also liable to intimidation and harassment at the hands of the authorities. Communication between HRDs is made difficult, as the Internet is monitored and bloggers run the risk of being arrested and having their websites banned.

Under police custody, HRDs have been denied legal council and kept incommunicado. They are also subject to physical and psychological torment. In order to secure their release, they are often coerced into signing documents stipulating that they will not speak to the media, and in the future will refrain from writing articles or organizing protests. They are also prevented from leaving the country for extended periods of time. Harsh measures are imposed for even the smallest infraction. In May 2008, the prominent human rights activist Dr. Matruk al-Faleh was arrested outside his place of work after he publicly criticised the prison conditions in which two other HRDs were serving sentences.

Human rights lawyers are subjected to abuse, intimidation and can be suspended from their practice. The commercial lawyer Abdulrahman al-Lahim, had his license suspended, and is barred from exiting the country, after he defended a 19-year-old gang rape victim. His plight has served to highlight the injustices which HRDs are facing in the Kingdom.