Political Prisoners

Monitoring & Documentation

Monitoring & Documentation Saudi cartoonist jailed for 23 years for caricatures and non-existent tweets
After a secret retrial, the Specialised Criminal Appeal Court in Saudi Arabia has resentenced political cartoonist Al Hazzaa – full name Mohammed Ahmad Eid Al Hazzaa al-Ghamdi – to 23 years in prison.
2024-11-01
Monitoring & Documentation Saudi authorities must end misuse of administrative and judicial measures against released human rights defenders including Loujain al-Hathloul
We, the undersigned organisations, call on the Saudi authorities to immediately cease misusing administrative and judicial measures against human rights defenders (HRDs) released from prison.
2024-10-31
Monitoring & Documentation Over 200 executions in nine months: NGOs condemn escalating use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia
The undersigned organisations are horrified by the soaring number of executions in Saudi Arabia. According to data from the Saudi Press Agency, the authorities have executed at least 200 individuals in 2024.
2024-10-10
Monitoring & Documentation Partners of Saudi Arabia should send observers to upcoming trial hearings of Salma al-Shehab and Nourah al-Qahtani
Partners of Saudi Arabia should send observers to the upcoming trial hearings of Salma al-Shehab and Nourah al-Qahtani starting on September 25, human rights groups say.
2024-09-24

Advocacy & Campaigns

Advocacy & Campaigns NGOs call on Saudi Arabia to improve women’s rights under the scrutiny of the CEDAW Committee
MENA Rights Group, Amnesty International, ALQST for Human Rights and the European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights call on Saudi Arabia to improve women's rights in the country and to abide by the CEDAW.
2024-11-20
Advocacy & Campaigns Neom: the disturbing facts exposed
ALQST publishes in-depth briefing on the human rights and environmental concerns surrounding Saudi megacity project.
2024-11-19
Advocacy & Campaigns FIFA / Saudi Arabia: Human rights groups, football supporters, worker organisations express “deep concern” at global law firm’s flawed World Cup 2034 assessment
A flawed human rights assessment of Saudi Arabia’s FIFA 2034 World Cup bid by AS&H Clifford Chance leaves the global firm at risk of being linked to abuses which result from the tournament.
2024-10-28
Advocacy & Campaigns EU must not ignore gross human rights abuses as Saudi Crown Prince visits Brussels
ALQST for Human Rights condemns the Saudi authorities’ persistent efforts to whitewash their human rights record through high-profile international engagements.
2024-10-16

Reports

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
Reports The Soaring Fantasy, The Harsh Reality: Human Rights in Saudi Arabia in 2023
ALQST’s latest annual report documents the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia in 2023.
2024-01-31

ALQST In The Media

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.
Deutsche Welle (DW)
Neom
2023-06-18

Saudi Arabia's Neom: A prestigious project with a dark side

This view is echoed by Lina al-Hathloul, director of communication of the London-based Saudi human rights watchdog ALQST. "Our main concern is that Ne...
AP News
Women's Rights
2023-06-01

Saudi fitness instructor Manahel al-Otaibi latest targeted in crackdown on dissent in kingdom

“They say they welcome women and that women can wear whatever — but at the end what is happening is that it’s only for Westerners,” said Lina Alhathlo...