Radhya al-Mutawakel
Cases- Location of case in SG report
- 2019-094-002, 2019-124-002
- Relevant SG report
- Year of the report
- 2019
- From Country
- Country Geolocation
Latitude: 23.885942
Longitude: 45.079162
- Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
- Saudi Arabia
- From Region
- UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report
- UN Special Procedures: Thematic
- Dates of prior UN action
- 25 June 2018
- Type of record
- Named individual
- Gender
- Female
- Was the victim a foreign national?
- Yes
- Was the victim a minor?
- No
- Individual's/organization's activity
of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights
- Type of rights defended
- Unclear in SG Report
- Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
- No
- Reported trigger of reprisal
In 2017, Ms. Al-Mutawakel was the first Yemeni woman to present a briefing at the UN Security Council
- Engagement with UN body
- UN Security Council
- Dates of engagement
- 2017
- Type of attempted engagement
- Participation in meeting on UN premises
- Dates of mentioned reprisals
- 18 June 2018
- Location of mentioned reprisals
- Seiyun airport
- Reprisal information
The detention and confiscation of their passports at Seiyun airport by military police were reportedly based on orders received from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, and caused them to not be able to travel
- Types of reprisals suffered
- Detention/Imprisonment: Release within a day
- Travel restriction
- Alleged/likely perpetrators
- State actors
- Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
- No
- Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
- No
- Further case development
-
On 25 June 2018, three special procedures mandate holders addressed the situation of Mr. Abdulrasheed Al-Faqih and Ms. Radhia Al-Mutawake of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights (see also Yemen), including reported arbitrary detentions during attempts to fly from Seiyun airport, in apparent reprisal for their cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms (YEM 4/2018; SAU 8/2018 and A/HRC/40/60/Add.1, para. 638). In 2017, Ms. Al-Mutawakel was the first Yemeni woman to present a briefing at the UN Security Council and Mr. Al-Faqih had actively participated in Human Rights Council sessions in 2017. The detention and confiscation of their passports at Seiyun airport by military police were reportedly based on orders received from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, and caused them to not be able to travel (YEM 4/2018; SAU 8/2018). On 28 June 2018, the Government responded stating that Saudi Arabia is not concerned with these cases since they are in the territories of Yemen.99
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On 25 June 2018 three special procedures mandate holders addressed the situation of Mr. Abdulrasheed Al-Faqih and Ms. Radhia Al-Mutawake of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights, including reported arbitrary detention during attempts to fly from Seiyun airport, in apparent reprisal for their cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms (YEM 4/2018 and SAU 8/2018). These restrictions occurred after Ms. Al-Mutawakel was the first Yemeni woman to brief the UN Security Council, and Mr. Al-Faqih actively participated in Human Rights Council sessions in 2017. On 14 June 2018, Mr. Al-Faqih was on his way to Say’un airport when he was detained and interrogated at Bab Al-Falaj checkpoint (Marib) by individuals believed to be members of forces loyal to the Government wearing Central Security Forces uniforms, who confiscated his passport and cell phone and took him to the security headquarters in Marib. He was unable to contact anybody for several hours and his location remained unconfirmed until his release later that afternoon. This incident prevented him from travelling abroad. On 18 June 2018, Mr. Al-Faqih and Ms. Al- Mutawakel were prevented from travelling again when they were detained at Seiyun airport by military police reportedly of the Saudi-led coalition, and their passports confiscated (YEM 4/2018 and SAU 8/2018). Mr. Al-Faqih has reportedly been able to return to Yemen but Ms. Al-Mutawakel remains at risk due to her advocacy work.
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- Government response dates
- 28 June 2018
- Government response content
Government responded stating that Saudi Arabia is not concerned with these cases since they are in the territories of Yemen
- Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
- No
- Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
- No
- Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
- No
- How many times has the case been followed up in subsequent SG reports?
- 3
- In which SG report was this case followed up on? 0
- 2022
- Follow up information provided in SG report 0
- The case of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights, a Sana’a-based civil society organization, and members of its staff, was included in the 2019 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General on allegations of detention and prevention of travel following engagement with the United Nations Security Council and United Nations human rights mechanisms (SAU 8/2018; YEM 4/2018). On 25 January 2022, the head of Mwatana, Ms. Radhya al-Mutawakel, briefed the Security Council on the situation in Yemen in an open debate on protection of civilians in urban settings. Following her participation, she was subjected to a smear campaign and threats on social media, including allegations of being an agent of international organizations and siding with the de facto authorities. In addition, according to information received by OHCHR, fourteen incidents against Mwatana’s field researchers and lawyers were documented during the reporting period where all parties to the conflict used threats, intimidation, surveillance, arbitrary detention, and physical attacks against staff in different geographical areas, including in Sana’a, Taiz, Hadhramout, Marib, Hudaydah, Dhamar, Aden, Amran and Ibb.
- Followup Trends 0
- Deterioration/further reprisals
- Did the government respond? 0
- No
- In which SG report was this case followed up on? 1
- 2023
- Follow up information provided in SG report 1
- The case of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights, a Sana’a-based civil society organization, and members of its staff, was included in the 2019 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General 184 on allegations of detention and prevention of travel following engagement with the United Nations Security Council and United Nations human rights mechanisms (SAU 8/2018; YEM 4/2018). On 25 January 2022, the head of Mwatana, Ms. Radhya al-Mutawakel, briefed the Security Council on the situation in Yemen185 and was subjected to a smear campaign following her participation. According to information received by OHCHR, 15 incidents against Mwatana’s field researchers and lawyers were documented during the reporting period where all parties to the conflict used threats, intimidation, arbitrary detention, incitement and smear campaign and travel bans against staff in different geographical areas, including in Sana’a, Taiz, Hadhramout, Marib, Dhamar, Haijah, Abyan, Al Dhalea Aden, and Amran.
- Followup Trends 1
- No substantive information provided by SG report
- Did the government respond? 1
- No
- In which SG report was this case followed up on? 2
- 2024
- Follow up information provided in SG report 2
- The case of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights, a Sana’a-based civil society organization, and members of its staff, was included in the 2019 report of the Secretary-General and later in successive reports since 2021,199 on allegations of detention and prevention of travel following engagement with the United Nations Security Council and United Nations human rights mechanisms (SAU 8/2018; YEM 4/2018). On 25 January 2022, the head of Mwatana, Ms. Radhya al-Mutawakel, briefed the Security Council on the situation in Yemen200 and was subjected to a smear campaign following her participation.
- According to information received by OHCHR, on 30 Sep 2023, the Houthis-controlled Sana’a Airport authorities prevented five staff members of Mwatana Organization for Human Rights from flying to Amman, Jordan via Sana’a Airport including Ms. Radhya al-Mutawakel. The five were flying first to Jordan to participate in peacebuilding and human rights events, and then to Geneva, to participate in the Human Rights Council. Reportedly, they were asked about the reason for their travel and travel destination and were informed they were banned from travelling. Three of them traveled a few days later. Reportedly, 21 incidents against Mwatana’s field researchers and lawyers were documented during the reporting period including threats, intimidation, travel bans, investigative summonses, restrictions on freedoms, arbitrary arrests, attempted arbitrary detention, in ten governorates: Sana’a, Tai’zz, Hadramaut, Hudaydah, Lahj, Dhale’, Aden, Ibb, Sa’adah, Amran, and Hajjah.
- Followup Trends 2
- Deterioration/further reprisals
- Did the government respond? 2
- No