Political Prisoners

Monitoring & Documentation

Monitoring & Documentation NGOs welcome the reduction of Salma al-Shehab’s sentence, but continue to call for her unconditional release
We welcome the recent decision by a Saudi court to reduce the jail sentence of Saudi prisoner of conscience Salma al-Shehab from 27 years to four years, with an additional four years suspended.
2025-01-15
Monitoring & Documentation Human rights defenders Mohammed al-Qahtani and Essa al-Nukheifi conditionally released
Saudi human rights defenders Mohammed al-Qahtani and Essa al-Nukheifi were conditionally released this week, after years of arbitrary imprisonment on the basis of their peaceful activism.
2025-01-10
Monitoring & Documentation Highest execution toll ever recorded in Saudi Arabia: over 300 individuals executed in 2024 so far
Saudi Arabia’s escalating use of the death penalty has reached horrifying levels in 2024, with at least 306 individuals executed as of 6 December, the highest known figure in Saudi history.
2024-12-09
Monitoring & Documentation #FreeAhmedKamel: Saudi Arabia must not extradite peaceful protester to Egypt, where he would face torture
Ahmed Fathi Kamal Kamel should not be deported to Egypt, where he would be at high risk of being subjected to torture and other human rights violations.
2024-12-02

Advocacy & Campaigns

Advocacy & Campaigns Online hacks and censorship taint UN Internet Governance Forum in Riyadh
Concerns over Saudi Arabia’s suitability to host the 2024 IGF were confirmed, when two panel sessions that broached human rights issues were hacked and the content briefly deleted from the IGF website.
2024-12-23
Advocacy & Campaigns Civil society demands action ahead of Internet Governance Forum
The undersigned NGOs urge the Saudi authorities to release people imprisoned for their online expression and foster transparency and accountability, ahead of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024.
2024-12-13
Advocacy & Campaigns Award of 2034 men’s World Cup to Saudi Arabia risks lives and exposes FIFA’s empty human rights commitments
Today’s confirmation of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 FIFA men’s World Cup, despite the well-known and severe risks to residents, migrant workers and visiting fans alike, marks a moment of great danger.
2024-12-11
Advocacy & Campaigns Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid leaves open direct risk of grave human rights abuses – new briefing paper from ALQST
Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA men’s World Cup falls far short of the global footballing body’s own minimum human rights standards, and leaves the field wide open to the risk of violations.
2024-12-05

Reports

Reports An Open Field for Violations: Saudi Arabia’s 2034 FIFA World Cup bid
ALQST’s briefing unpacks Saudi Arabia’s 2034 FIFA World Cup bid, finding that serious shortcomings in the bid documentation point to a real risk of widescale violations.
2025-01-13
Reports Submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Report submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in the context of the periodic review of Saudi Arabia
2024-11-22
Reports Submission to the CEDAW Committee in advance of Saudi Arabia's fifth periodic review
Report submitted to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and Girls (CEDAW) in the context of the fifth periodic review of Saudi Arabia.
2024-09-19
Reports The Saudi Diaspora: A growing community of emigrés and refugee
This report, richly illustrated with quotes, explores the reasons why increasing numbers of Saudi nationals are fleeing their wealthy country, and the continuing challenges they face while living abroad.
2024-08-01

ALQST In The Media

France 24
Digital rights
2024-12-18

Activist tells Saudi-hosted UN forum of 'silencing' of dissent

"For today, an empty chair will have to represent my voice -- a stark symbol of the silencing faced by so many of us," said Hathloul, head of communic...
Deutsche Welle (DW)
Sportswashing
2024-12-11

World Cup 2034: Saudi Arabia's human rights failures ignored

Lina al-Hathloul, the head of monitoring and advocacy at ALQST, a Saudi human rights organization, says that the world should not be distracted by a m...
Guardian
Sportswashing
2024-10-21

Top female footballers urge Fifa to end deal with Saudi ‘nightmare sponsor’

Lina al-Hathloul, head of monitoring and advocacy at ALQST for Human Rights, said: “As long as Saudi Arabia’s authorities fail to genuinely respect wo...
Middle East Eye
Saudi diaspora
2024-08-01

Huge spike in Saudi Arabians seeking asylum since 2013, survey finds

The number of Saudi Arabians "fleeing their country and seeking asylum abroad" has spiked since 2013, according to a first-ever survey of its kind pub...
Dezeen
Neom
2024-06-01

Neom being "built on the blood of Saudis" says ALQST's Lina Alhathloul

"It is a project that is definitely not a priority for the Saudi people, given the current state of existing cities in the country," ALQST head of mon...
BBC
Women's rights
2024-05-01

Manahel al-Otaibi: Saudi women's rights activist jailed for 11 years

ALQST's head of advocacy Lina al-Hathloul said Manahel al-Otaibi's "confidence that she could act with freedom could have been a positive advertisemen...
Forbes
Freedom of expression
2024-03-27

Saudi Soccer Fans Go On Trial For Shia Chants

"While Western fans and sports stars visiting the kingdom may find themselves in a relative bubble, such freedom is not extended to the local populati...
France 24
Death penalty
2023-09-29

Relatives of detained Saudis urge 'ashamed' prince to act on cases

Lina al-Hathloul, head of monitoring and communication for the rights group ALQST, said there should be more transparency when it comes to how existin...
The Guardian
Sportswashing
2023-09-06

‘Fans have power’ –Newcastle faithful urged to speak up against Saudi regime

Lina al-Hathloul told an audience of around two dozen that challenging the Saudi regime over human rights abuses “can bring change” and it is possible...
NPR
Death penalty
2023-08-29

A Saudi man is sentenced to death after his tweets criticizing country's leadership

LINA AL HATHLOUL: Well, I think the message is clear, is you are not safe whatever you do, whoever you are. And you have to just muzzle yourself.
CBS
Death penalty
2023-08-28

Saudi Arabia reportedly sentences man to death for criticizing government on social media

"Saudi courts are escalating their repression and unveiling publicly their empty promises of reform," said Lina al-Hathloul, head of monitoring and co...
Business Insider
Prisoners of conscience
2023-07-03

A Saudi woman was given 30 years in prison for criticizing the Neom megacity project on Twitter

ALQST, a UK-based human rights group, said a Saudi court sentenced Fatima al-Shawarbi to 30 years during a recent appeal hearing.