Two more members of the German Bundestag (MdBs) have adopted Saudi human rights defenders (HRDs) as part of the Bundestag’s “Parliamentarians Protect Parliamentarians” programme, following extensive advocacy efforts by ALQST. The programme’s aim is to protect the rights of persecuted HRDs around the world by drawing the attention of key political decision-makers to their plight.
Four Saudi HRDs have now been adopted by German parliamentarians, the most recent being humanitarian aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, adopted by Peter Heidt MdB, and women’s rights defender (WHRD) Aziza al-Yousef, adopted by Ophelia Nick MdB. Al-Sadhan is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for his peaceful social media posts, and al-Yousef, although released from prison in 2019, remains under heavy restrictions. Nick explained why she took this positive step:
“Women like Aziza al-Yousef have stood up for their rights despite the dangers that entails. We in Germany have the privilege of being able to speak our minds without having to fear such penalties. As a Member of Parliament, it is also a great privilege to be able to exercise this mandate in safety… And that's why I sponsored Aziza al-Yousef.” – Ophelia Nick MdB
Before this, Zaklin Nastic MdB had taken up the case of WHRD Israa Al-Ghomgham, initially sentenced in 2021 to eight years in prison for her peaceful human rights activism and re-sentenced in 2022 to 13 years. Meanwhile, Omid Nouripour MdB adopted the case of WHRD Loujain al-Hathloul, who was detained and tortured over her promotion of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hathloul has been released from prison but remains subject to harsh restrictions, including a ban on leaving the country. Nouripour had this to say:
“It is a great honour for me to sponsor this incredibly courageous and impressive human rights defender… Loujain al-Hathloul is an icon of the Saudi Arabian women's rights movement. For many years she has been fighting for the abolition of what is still practised in many areas of life in Saudi Arabia: male guardianship.” – Omid Nouripour MdB
The Bundestag’s “Parliamentarians Protect Parliamentarians” campaign supports detained and threatened HRDs across the world, and gives MdBs various options for action to draw further attention to their sponsored HRDs, such as holding private meetings with relevant political stakeholders, organising public events, and helping to generate media attention, in order to ensure that the German government raises their cases regularly with their foreign counterparts.
ALQST applauds these efforts and is working with Bundestag members to get more Saudi HRDs adopted for support, against the backdrop of an unrelenting crackdown on free speech and human rights activism in Saudi Arabia.
