A/HRC/42/30 to Saudi Arabia in January 2017 (SAU 2/2017).153 On 8 April 2019, Al Nukheifi requested to be transferred to Jizan prison to be able to see his family, but his request was reportedly denied. 94. The case of Mr. Fawzan Mohsen Awad Al Harbi, human rights defender and member of ACPRA was included in the 2014 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/27/38, para. 30) and addressed by special procedures mandate holders (SAU 1/2014) regarding travel restrictions and a request to sign a pledge to terminate ACPRA in connection to his cooperation with the UN. In December 2013, he was arrested and detained at Al Malaz prison in Riyadh and charged with, among other things, “co-founding an unlicensed organization” and “ignoring judicial decisions ordering its dissolution.” In June 2014, he was sentenced to one year in prison and an additional six-year suspended prison sentence. In November 2014, the Court of Appeal increased his sentence to a 10year prison term followed by a travel ban of 10 years. On 30 July 2018, Mr. Al Harbi’s wife, Ms. Amal Al Harbi, was reportedly arrested. She had been vocal in campaigning for the release of her husband and is currently being held at Dhahban Prison pending the finalization of the trial. 95. The case of Ms. Samar Badawi was included in the 2015 annual report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/30/29, para. 36) concerning threats and subsequent interrogation for a statement she made at the Human Rights Council in September 2014. On 30 July 2018, it was reported that Ms. Badawi was arrested without a warrant in Jeddah and transferred to an unknown location where she was detained incommunicado for a month before being allowed contact with her family. In early 2019, it was alleged that Ms. Badawi was among other women reported in the media who faced sexual harassment, torture and other forms of physical and psychological ill-treatment during interrogation. Ms. Badawi has been the subject of several special procedures communications (SAU 16/2014), (SAU 1/2016), (SAU 11/2018), and (SAU 1/2019) and a public statement. 154 The Government responded, 155 indicating that the facts pertaining to the allegations of reprisals were inaccurate and that Ms. Badawi was subject to criminal charges. On 5 April 2019, the Government provided information that Ms. Badawi is detained at a prison in Jeddah Governorate Makkah Province. According to information received, she is allowed regular contact with her family at Dhahban Prison but has been denied her right to legal counsel and has not been informed of the charges against her. 25. South Sudan 96. In the 2018 report of the Secretary-General, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and OHCHR reported instances of restrictions by national authorities against individuals whose opinions were perceived as critical of the Government or the reputation of the country and who cooperated with the United Nations (A/HRC/39/41, paras. 67–68 and Annex I, paras. 100–102). 156 During the reporting period, UNMISS received reports of at least eight incidents, including arbitrary arrests, detention, and acts of intimidation and harassment. For instance, former detainees who were being released from detention facilities, were ordered not to share information with the United Nations on their experiences during their detention. 97. National authorities continued to target individuals and organizations perceived as sharing information regarding possible human rights violations or specifically contributing to UNMISS public reports. The perpetrators were identified among the elements of the 153 154 155 156 64 Response from Government: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=33466. OHCHR “Saudi Arabia must immediately release all women’s rights defenders, say UN experts,” (12 October 2018). On 13 May 2015, 25 May 2016, 29 October 2018, and 29 January 2019: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34383. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34518. UNMISS and OHCHR, “Report on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression in South Sudan since the July 2016 Crisis,” (February 2018). GE.19-15332