Saudi Arabia: Travel ban on human rights defender Abdul Rahman Al Lahem

Your Majesty,

I am concerned about the travel ban that has been imposed against Abdul Rahman Al Lahem since 2004. Abdul Rahman Al Lahem is a human rights lawyer who has worked in particular to defend the rights of women. He was recently awarded the International Human Rights Lawyer Award from the American Bar Association but was unable to collect the award in person because of the travel ban against him and the confiscation of his passport.

In 2004, Abdul Rahman Al Lahem was imprisoned for publicly speaking out against human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia as well as defending three pro-democracy activists. In November 2007, Abdul Rahman Al Lahem's lawyer's licence was revoked because he objected to the sentencing of a nineteen-year old female rape victim to six months' imprisonment and two hundred lashings for being in the company of a male stranger. The rape victim was later pardoned by King Abdullah.

I believe that Abdul Rahman Al Lahem has been targeted because of his legitimate work in the defence of human rights.

I urge the authorities in Saudi Arabia to:

1. Immediately lift the travel ban on Abdul Rahman Al Lahem and return his passport to him, as it is believed that he has been targeted solely because of his legitimate work in the defence of human rights; 2. Ensure that all human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia, including lawyers such as Abdul Rahman Al Lahem, carrying out their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, are able to operate free of restrictions and reprisals.

I respectfully remind you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals.

I would particularly draw your attention to Article 11: “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of his or her occupation or profession (...),” and to Article 12 (2): “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threat, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”

Yours sincerely,