Advocacy & Campaigns

ALQST raises individual cases as well as patterns and new trends of human rights violations with various international, regional and national bodies, including the UN human rights system, EU institutions and the British parliament, as well as individual stakeholders such as diplomats and companies doing business with Saudi Arabia. ALQST also conducts global campaigns via social media activity as well as online materials and in-person protests to raise awareness about human rights violations.

Briefings

Assault on Freedom of Movement: The Use of Arbitrary Travel Bans in Saudi Arabia

An Open Field for Violations: Saudi Arabia’s 2034 FIFA World Cup bid

Neom: A human rights and environmental impact assessment

Abdulrahman al-Sadhan: Humanitarian worker sentenced to 20 years in prison

Girls’ and Women’s ‘Care Institutions’ in Saudi Arabia (Dar al-Re‘aya)

A Soft Touch? Human Rights and the UK-Saudi Relationship

Articles

Advocacy & Campaigns ALQST and partners deliver two oral statements at UN Human Rights Council addressing arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances

ALQST, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, MENA Rights Group and Right Livelihood delivered two joint oral statements at the UN Human Rights Council's 54th Session

2023-09-20

Advocacy & Campaigns COP28: US Should Press UAE for Activist’s Release

The US government should publicly call on UAE authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the Emirati human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor ahead of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai

2023-09-08

Advocacy & Campaigns FCDO downplays human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia; ALQST calls for more robust action from UK government

The UK FCDO's recently published 2022 Human Rights and Democracy Report highlights some of the key human rights issues in Saudi Arabia but does not fully reflect the gravity of the situation there.

2023-08-23

Advocacy & Campaigns Saudi authorities reject UN experts’ concerns over Neom violations, and double down on baseless terrorism claims

In a reply to an Urgent Appeal from seven UN human rights experts, the Saudi government rejects their “profound concern” over death sentences and lengthy prison terms passed on members of the Huwaitat tribe

2023-08-16

Advocacy & Campaigns Gulf-focused NGOs call on Premier League and UK government to curb state ownership of football clubs

Five Gulf-focused human rights NGOs have written to the Premier League and the UK government to express their deep concern over the growing trend of Gulf state ownership of Premier League clubs

2023-08-11

Advocacy & Campaigns UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention calls for immediate release of Saudi women’s rights activists Salma al-Shehab and Nourah al-Qahtani

Following a complaint submitted by ALQST for Human Rights and partners, the UNWGAD issued an Opinion qualifying the detention of Saudi activists Salma al-Shehab and Nourah al-Qahtani as arbitrary.

2023-07-07

Advocacy & Campaigns ALQST and GCHR deliver oral statement at UN Human Rights Council addressing deaths in detention and executions in Saudi Arabia

On 26 June 2023, ALQST and the Gulf Centre for Human Rights delivered a joint oral statement at the UN Human Rights Council’s 53rd Session, addressing deaths in detention and the death penalty in Saudi Arabia

2023-06-27

Advocacy & Campaigns International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: MENA states must end practice and hold perpetrators accountable

June 26 marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, coinciding with the entry into force of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

2023-06-26

Advocacy & Campaigns German parliamentarians pledge support for at-risk Saudi human rights defenders

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.

2023-06-22

Advocacy & Campaigns Saudi Arabia: Microsoft Should Suspend Data Center Plans

Microsoft should suspend its plans to invest in a new cloud data center in Saudi Arabia until it can demonstrate how it will mitigate potential rights abuses, 18 human right groups said today.

2023-05-24

Advocacy & Campaigns Joint Organisational Statement of Support for “A People’s Vision for Reform in Saudi Arabia”

We, the undersigned organisations, express our support for “A People’s Vision for Reform in Saudi Arabia,” the Saudi-led blueprint for democracy and human rights for the people of Saudi Arabia.

2023-05-18

Advocacy & Campaigns Civil society concerned over Saudi Arabia’s attempt to whitewash its human rights record through the World Expo 2030

Led by MENA Rights Group, civil society calls on the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to exclude Saudi Arabia's candidacy as a potential host for World Expo 2030 due to its poor human rights record.

2023-05-16

Advocacy & Campaigns Joint statement: States must take immediate action to stop spyware threatening press freedom

We, the undersigned civil society organizations and individuals, condemn the use of spyware against journalists and media workers.

2023-05-04

Advocacy & Campaigns Saudi authorities must release human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani and other ACPRA members who are arbitrarily detained

The undersigned human rights organisations call on Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release prominent Saudi human rights defender and ACPRA co-founder Dr. Mohammed al-Qahtani.

2023-04-24

Advocacy & Campaigns UN member states highlight Saudi Arabia’s dire human rights record

During the 52nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council that took place between 27 February and 4 April 2023, several states drew attention to grave and ongoing human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia.

2023-04-11

Advocacy & Campaigns Neom: Get serious about your human rights responsibilities, ALQST challenges companies involved in Saudi megaproject

After a mixed but mostly disappointing response from businesses to questions about the human rights implications of their work on Saudi Arabia’s Neom megacity, ALQST today urged them to engage urgently.

2023-03-31