42. Further to the information contained in my previous report on Mohammad Fahad Al-Qahtani,29 lawyer and co-founder and President of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights, which campaigns against arbitrary detention, it was reported that, on 9 March 2013, the Riyadh Criminal Court sentenced him to 10 years of imprisonment and a 10-year travel ban for, inter alia, having provided false information to outside sources, including the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations.30

The case of Mr. Mohammad Fahad Al Qahtani, lawyer and co-founder of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights (ACRPA) was included in the 2012 and 2013 reports of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/21/18, paras. 35–37; A/HRC/24/29, para. 42) concerning his sentencing to 10 years of imprisonment and a 10-year travel ban for inter alia having provided false information to outside sources, including the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations. On 17 December 2018, Mr. Al Qahtani reportedly started a hunger strike and was subsequently punished with solitary confinement for two days. On 20 March 2019, he was moved from the wing of political prisoners inside Al Hai’r Prison to the wing hosting regular criminals despite his complaints.

114. The case of Mr. Mohammad Fahad Al Qahtani, of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights (ACRPA), was included in the 2012, 2013 and 2019 reports of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/21/18, paras. 35–37; A/HRC/24/29, para. 42; and A/HRC/42/30, para. 74 and Annex II, para. 92). It was reported to OHCHR that, in February 2020, while serving 10 years of imprisonment (and a 10-year travel ban) for having provided false information to outside sources, including the UN human rights mechanisms, he has been denied contact with his family and has been transferred to another prison ward.

119. The case of Mr. Mohammad Fahad Al Qahtani, of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights (ACRPA), was included in the 2020, 2019, 2013 and 2012 reports of the Secretary-General233 on allegations of interrogation, travel ban and sentencing to 10 years ofimprisonment for providing false information to outside sources, including UN human rights mechanisms. Mr. Al Qahtani is currently held in Al-Ha’ir Prison in Riyadh. According to information received by OHCHR, in December 2020 and March 2021, Mr. Al Qahtani carried out hunger strikes jointly with other inmates to protest harassment and lack of family contact, access to books and essential medication. In April 2021, Mr. Al Qahtani reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 and since 7 April 2021 has been denied any contact with the outside world.
120. On 16 February 2021, special procedures mandate holders addressed Mr. Al Qahtani’s situation and requested information, inter alia, on any restrictions placed on his contact with family members (SAU 3/2021). On 10 May 2021, the Government responded providing information about Mr. Al Qahtani’s sentence for national security offences and crimes punishable under the Repression of Cybercrime Act. 234 The Government stated that no restrictions have been placed on contact with family members beyond those related to COVID-19 and noted that the grounds for Mr. Al Qahtani’s hunger strike were investigated and addressed by the prison authorities.

134. On 30 November 2021, special procedure mandate holders addressed allegations of the arbitrary detention and acts of intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN against Mr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Mr. Fowzan Al-Harbi and Mr. Essa Al-Nukhaifi and expressed concern for allegations of mistreatment and about “what appears to be a pattern of widespread and systematic arbitrary arrest and detention of persons including human rights defenders” (SAU 13/2021). Reportedly, on 15 August 2021, Mr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani initiated a hunger strike in protest against alleged ill treatment by Al-Ha’ir prison administration, and was joined by Mr. Al-Harbi, Mr. Al-Nukhaifi and other detainees.
135. On 20 January 2022, the Government responded, providing information about Mr. Al Qahtani’s sentence for national security offences, denying a hunger strike in August reaffirming no restriction on family visits for Mr. Al-Qahtani, Mr. Fowzan and Mr. Al- Nukhaifi. It further confirmed they had received the necessary medical care and provided as well as information on the COVID-19 Protocol followed with Mr. Al Qahtani.182

130. The case of Mr. Mohammad Fahad Al Qahtani, of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights (ACRPA), was included in the 2012, 2013, 2019, 2020 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General160 on allegations of interrogation, travel ban and sentencing to 10 years of imprisonment for providing false information to outside sources, including UN human rights mechanisms. Special procedures mandate holders have addressed his situation repeatedly with the relevant authorities, including allegations of acts of reprisals for hiscooperation with the UN.161 Mr. Al Qahtani is currently held in Al-Ha’ir Prison in Riyadh. According to information received by OHCHR in May 2022, Mr. Al Qahtani and around other 30 prisoners were moved to the psychiatric ward. There, he was reportedly beaten by co-detainees and held two hunger strikes to demand transfer and in protest of the lack of contact with his family, respectively. Reportedly, in mid-March 2023, Mr. Al Qahtani was seen in King Saud medical City as his health has deteriorated in connection to the hunger strikes.

131. On 9 November 2022, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders raised concerns over the health and life of Mr. Al Qahtani, jailed in 2013 for allegedly providing false information to outside sources, including UN human rights mechanisms.162 The Special Rapporteur raised further concerns over reports that his family had lost communication with him since 23 October 2022 after he complained about attacks by other prisoners and that he was being held in incommunicado detention.

132. On 30 November 2022, special procedures mandate holders addressed Mr. Al Qahtani’s and Mr. Al-Nukehifi ongoing detention past the expiry of their sentences of 10- and 6-years imprisonment respectively and their lack of access to legal counsel. They also raised concerns over the alleged ill treatment in detention of Mr. Al Qahtani, including attacks by co-detainees in May 2022 and October 2022 and the lack of contact with his family. (SAU 10/2022) On 30 January 2023, the Government responded to special procedures mandate holders noting his access to the necessary medical care, denied allegations of beatings from inmates and clarified that both Mr. al-Qahtani and Mr. Al-Nukeifi were charged with a number of criminal offences, including inciting others to commit criminal offences within prison, and that investigation by the Public Prosecution Service was ongoing, hence their continued detention.164

156. The case of Mr. Mohammad Fahad Al Qahtani, of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights (ACRPA), has been included in the 2012, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023 reports of the Secretary-General 164 on allegations of interrogation, travel ban and sentencing to 10 years of imprisonment for providing false information to outside sources, including UN human rights mechanisms. Special procedures mandate holders have addressed his situation repeatedly with the relevant authorities, including raising allegations of acts of reprisals for his cooperation with the United Nations, ill treatment, and lack of contact with his family while in prison, to which the Government responded, confirming new criminal charges and his detention.165 According to information received by OHCHR, in May 2023, six months after his 10-yer prison term ended, Mr. Al Qahtani was tried in secret by the StateSecurity Court in Riyadh. On 23 July 2023, his wife was informed by prison authorities in a phone call that her husband’s name was “not appearing in the system anymore.” Reportedly, Mr. Al Qahtani remains in detention in Riyadh and has not been permitted contact with the outside world since 23 July 2023.