A/HRC/39/41 13. Pakistan 44. On 26 July 2017, four special procedures mandate holders sent an urgent appeal to the Government alleging threats and acts of intimidation against Mr. Adil Ghaffar, a lawyer and human rights defender who has brought to the attention of the United Nations human rights mechanisms, cases of extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances allegedly committed by State agents against members of the political party and movement Muttahida Quami Movement, including persons belonging to the Mohajirs community (PAK 5/2017). 45. According to the information received, Mr. Ghaffar’s home has been monitored and he has received direct death threats from the twitter account @PakRangersFreePress. This account reportedly belongs to Pakistani Paramilitary Rangers, who have been accused of of serious human rights violations against MQM workers and ethnic Mohajirs. 46. The first threat received was on 1 July 2017, from a tweet referring to Mr. Ghaffar as a “traitor of Pakistan.” It stated that if someone needs his residential address and details about his family they should contact the sender. On 14 July 2017, Mr. Ghaffar received another message from the social media account @PakRangersFreePress, which asked “what punishment is fit for the traitor.” The special procedures expressed serious concern that these reported threats and acts of intimidation appear to be reprisals against Mr. Ghaffar at least in part due to his engagement with the United Nations human rights mechanisms. At the time of writing there had been no response to the urgent appeal. 14. Rwanda 47. In the 2017 report of the Secretary-General it was noted that two special procedures mandate holders sent an urgent appeal to the Government (RWA 1/2017) on 18 January 2017, in response to allegations of kidnapping and intense daily interrogation against journalist and human rights defender Mr. Robert Mugabe (see A/HRC/36/31, para. 48 and Annex, paras. 62 and 65) for his cooperation with the universal periodic review and the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/35/44). 48. On 30 May 2018, Mr. David Kaye, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, wrote to the Government in response to allegations that while Mr. Mugabe was travelling to Geneva to attend the 2017 United Nations Internet Governance Forum on 15 December 2017, he was stopped by the authorities at the airport in Kigali and barred from leaving the country (RWA 1/2018). He was reportedly detained and questioned for several hours on accusations of “working against the state, treason, and spreading rumours to undermine the state…” based upon his critical reporting published online. The police searched his bags and phone and questioned him about his activities related to the Human Rights Council. He was released after four hours of questioning to return home. On 16 December 2017 he was reportedly summoned again to the police, and criminal investigations from January 2017 were reopened against him, which could lead to formal charges. If convicted for treason, Mr. Mugabe could face 25 years in prison. At the time of writing the Government had not responded to the communications by the special procedures of 18 January 2017 and 30 May 2018. 15. Saudi Arabia 49. It was reported that on 16 September 2017, Mr. Issa Al-Hamid, of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) was arrested, following previous sentences imposed by the Saudi authorities during a crackdown on human rights defenders. The 2017 report of the Secretary-General (see A/HRC/36/31, para. 49 and Annex, paras. 66-67) noted that three special procedures mandate holders took action on the case of Mr. Al-Hamid, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison followed by an 11-year travel ban and a fine of 100,000 Riyals (SAU 8/2016). He was originally sentenced to nine years by the Specialized Criminal Court for having, inter alia “communicated with international organizations in order to harm the image of the State,” a charge that according to special procedures appear to also constitute acts of reprisal for cooperation with the United Nations. His sentence was increased by two years on 1 December 2016 by the Court of Appeal. GE.18-13325 49