Posted 2009/1/15
Saudi Arabia: human rights defender, Dr Matrouk Al-Faleh released after 235 days in prison.
On 11 January 2009, Dr Matrouk Al-Faleh was released after spending 235 days in prison. Dr Matrouk was held in solitary confinement in Alhayer prison, was not officially charged, was not allowed legal consultation or regular visits, and was denied adequate medical treatment and access to fresh air and exercise, despite suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, skin irritation and rheumatism.
Further Information
While Front Line welcomes the release of Dr Matrouk Al-Faleh, Front Line now calls on the authorities in Saudi Arabia to bring those responsible for the arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of him to justice, to reform the laws and institutions that facilitate such violations of human rights, and to provide protection for all human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia.
Dr Matrouk Al-Faleh was arrested on 19 May 2008 while at work at the King Sa’ud University in Riyadh. The fact that he was held in solitary confinement was a clear violation of international norms and of Article 119 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law which allows solitary confinement for a maximum of two months. Article 114 of the Saudi Criminal Procedures Law was also contravened given that it states that the maximum detention period without trial is six months.
Dr Matrouk Al-Faleh is a professor of Political Science at the King Sa’ud University in Riyad. He is also a prominent member of the Arab Commission for Human Rights which is based in Paris. For additional information on this case see links to previous appeals below.
