AlRebh Judgment, and Continuance Investigation and Trial of AlSaeed and AlAamer

European Saudi Society for Human Rights

11/05/2014

Last week, the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) in Jeddah sentenced Sheikh Jalal AlJamal for 5 years as a primary rule in prison and a fine of 50,000 SAR (13,333 dollars) because of some charges that related to the freedom of expression, and also sentenced prisoner of conscience Ali Gasipe AlThifah for 6 years as a primary rule and a fine of 50,000 SAR. Several trials and investigations are scheduled early this coming week.

Abdullah AlSaeed

More specifically, and as one of the controlling procedure by the Saudi authorities to stop human rights defender and political activities, the member of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) Abdullah AlSaeed is still going through investigation in Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution in Buraidah since 29/04/2014. AlSaeed is having his fourth investigation session on May 12^th. Also, 9 other members of ACPRA are currently imprisoned and 3 others were interrogated due to their political and human rights activities.

Additionally, Sheikh Tawfiq AlAmer was transferred from AlHair Prison, which considered to be for criminals, in the capital Riyadh to Jeddah in preparation for submission to the SCC in a long series of trials. The 12^th trial is specified in response to the defense charges as incitement. Based on several previous trials in June 2013, Sheikh AlAmer was sentenced to 4 years in prison; travel bans for 5 years and ban of public speaking.

Sheikh Tawfiq AlAmer

Also, in the same day of Sheikh AlAmer 12^th trial and prison, Raza Jafar AlRebh is going through his 4^th trial devoted to verdict in regard to charges, including concealment and harboring wanted people which were involved Qatif and AlAHasa activities that began since February 2011.

The European Saudi Society for Human Rights, and based on continues monitoring of conscience trials of opinion and ongoing investigations, believes that the Saudi authorities have been violating international standards. Extreme and harsh charges as 30 years in prison and 30 years travel ban, secret trials as in the Saudi citizen Saeed Salah AlMabyog’s case, in December 2013. His prosecution was only published by official media after the public prosecutor demanded the death penalty based on forced confession[1].

#TrialsNotebook 16 of 05/12/2014 until 06/17/2014, according to the monitoring of the European Saudi Society for Human Rights 

http://goo.gl/zV7eVj

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[1] Saudi Arabia: 30 years in prison for the accused asked out of the Peninsula Shield in Bahrain http://archive.arabic.cnn.com/2013/middle_east/12/22/Saudi.arabia.jail.activist.Bahrain/

الحكم على الربح، واستمرار التحقيق والمحاكمة للسعيد والعامر

الجمعية الأوروبية السعودية لحقوق الإنسان

11/05/2014

بعد أن قضت المحكمة الجزائية بجدة الأسبوع المنصرم على الشيخ جلال آل جمال ابتدائيا بالسجن 5 سنوات وغرامة 50 الف ريال سعودي (13,333 دولار) بتهم بعضها تتعلق بحرية التعبير، وعلى معتقل الرأي علي جاسب التحيفة 6 سنوات وغرامة 50 الف ريال سعودي. تقام مطلع الأسبوع العشرين من السنة الميلادية 2014 بعض جلسات المحاكمة والتحقيقات.

عبدالله السعيد

ففي يوم غد الأثنين الثاني عشر من مايو، وضمن خطوات السلطات السعودية للحد من نشاط المدافعين عن حقوق الانسان والناشطين يستكمل عضو جمعية حسم - التي يوجد 9 من أعضائها في السجون السعودية إضافة للتحقيق في وقت سابق مع ثلاثة اخرين - العضو عبدالله السعيد جلسات التحقيقات التي تجري معه في هيئة التحقيق والإدعاء العام في بريدة منذ التاسع والعشرين من ابريل الماضي، بحضوره الجلسة الرابعة.

كما نقل الشيخ توفيق العامر من سجن الحائر (الجنائي) في العاصمة الرياض إلى جدة تمهيداً لعرضه على المحكمة الجزائية المتخصصة في سلسة طويلة من الجلسات، حيث ستخصص الجلسة الثانية عشر لرد الدفاع على تهمة المدعي للمتهم بالتحريض. عدا عن جلسات سابقة أقيمت في حكم سابق قضت فيه محكمة الاستئناف العليا في يونيو 2013 بالسجن 4 سنوات والمنع من السفر 5 سنوات والمنع من إلقاء الخطب.

كما يمثل في ذات اليوم ونفس المحكمة، رضا جعفر الربح، في الجلسة الرابعة المخصصة للنطق بالحكم على خلفية تهم منها التستر على مطلوبين وإيوائهم، متعلقة بالاحداث في 

الشيخ توفيق العامر

محافظة القطيف والاحساء التي ابتدأت منذ فبراير 2011.

ترى الجمعية الأوروبية لحقوق الانسان من خلال مراقبتها لمحاكمات الرأي والتحقيقات الجارية، انها تنتهك المعايير الدولية، أدى ذلك إلى صدور أحكام بالغة القسوة على تهم بعضها تصنف ضمن حرية الرأي والتعبير، بلغت في احدى الحالات 30 سنة سجن و 30 سنة منع من السفر وذلك في الحكم الصادر في محاكمة سرية في ديسمبر 2013 على المواطن سعيد صالح المبيوق، لم تعرف نتائجها سوى من الصحافة الرسمية، بعد أن كان المدعي العام يطالب باعدامه، على خلفية تهم انتزعت تحت التعذيب [1] .

#مفكرة_المحاكمات 16، للمحاكمات من 12/05/2014 حتى 17/06/2014 بحسب رصد الجمعية الأوروبية السعودية لحقوق الإنسان
http://goo.gl/zV7eVj

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[1]  السعودية: السجن 30 عاما لمتهم طلب خروج درع الجزيرة من البحرين، سي أن أن http://archive.arabic.cnn.com/2013/middle_east/12/22/Saudi.arabia.jail.activist.Bahrain/

Busy Week of Prosecuting Activists, and the Sentencing Hearing for AlJamal

European Saudi Society for Human Rights

04/05/2014

Jalal al-Jamal, was released in 03/05/2013
after the arrest lasted for more than a year

As a routine procedure, the location of the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) switched from the capital Riyadh to Jeddah. Many political and human right defenders plus demonstrators are been prosecuted in SCC. It is been officially switched to Jeddah location since Thursday May 1^st 2014, but it will be relocated back to Riyadh after three months.

It is scheduled today that the Court of Appeal will decide the next coming trials for the poet Habib AlMatik, Reza AlBaharna, Hussein AlSalem and Muntazar AlOqeeli.  Initial sentences has been already pronounced, AlMatik 1 year; AlBaharna 1 year; AlSalem 3 years; AlOqeeli 5 years. The Appeal’s verdicts increases the sentences for AlMatik 2 years; AlBaharna 3 year and 6 months suspended for medical conditions; AlSalem 5 years; AlOqeeli 7 years.

As a continues prosecuting of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) members, Abdullah AlSaeed is going thought the third investigation session in the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution in Buraidah on May 5^th, where his first investigation session was on 04/29/2014 and the second on 01/05/2014. It seems that Dr. Abdulkarim Alkedher, founding member of ACPRA, is on his trial on May 7^th after an appeal to overturn the judge’s rule which sentenced him to 3 years and possibly 5 years, and a travel ban for 10 years.

On May 7^th the fifth trial of Ali Gasep Althifah, who were detained in regards to Qatif demonstration, and Sheikh Jalal AlJamal which is likely to be sentenced after the prosecutor charges him with “seeking and disturbing the public peace - the production and storage of what would prejudice public order - create a website that calls out for demonstrations and overthrowing the guardian - possessing and distributing videos relating to Qatif events – subscripting to groups mailing against the state”. Moreover, the second trial for Raza Jafar AlRebh is scheduled in regard to harboring a fugitive. Also, new a series of trials for AlJaroudi begins, whose accused of “protesting - communicate with the media - possession face masks - possession banners and flyers inscribed with political slogans”. These new trials for AlJaroudi is after his appeal to the former judge’s ruling of two years, where his case is with a new judge.

This week trials is concluded with political and human rights defenders and activists plus demonstrators. It is also the fifth trials for the human rights defender Mikhlif AlShammari in the General Court on May 8^th , on regards of “Prayer in Sayhat city - his visit to Sheikh AbdulKarim AlHabil – hosting a dinner for reformers”, this is one out of three cases in total in which AlShammari is going through in Saudi courts. He is already been sentenced to 5 years as an initial verdict.

Meanwhile, the trial of Mohammed Albgadi, a human right defender and a member of ACPRA, is still suspended since the judge refused to allow him to meet with his agents, as Albgadi has been insisted for his lawful right to meet before the trial. This comes also after Albgadi challenged the appeal ruling that sentenced him for 3 years.

أسبوع مزدحم بمحاكمة النشطاء، وجلسة للنطق بالحكم لآل جمال

الجمعية الأوروبية السعودية لحقوق الإنسان

04/05/2014

جلال آل جمال، اطلق سراحه في 05/03/2013 بعد اعتقال دام لأكثر من عام

كاجراء روتيني، أنتقلت المحكمة الجزائية المتخصصة التي يحاكم فيها عدد من النشطاء السياسيين والمدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان والمتظاهرين، من العاصمة السعودية الرياض إلى مدينة جدة، وذلك بدأ من الخميس 1 مايو 2014، تزامناً مع اقتراب فصل الصيف، وحتى ثلاثة أشهر قادمة، قبل أن تعاد لمقرها الأساسي في الرياض.

حيث يُنتظر اليوم الأحد 4 مايو، رد الإستئناف في تحديد جلسة محاكمة مقبلة للإعلاميين الشاعر حبيب المعاتيق ورضا البحارنة وحسين آل سالم ومنتظر العقيلي. هذا وقد صدرت احكام أولية: حبيب سنة، رضا سنة، حسين 3 سنوات، منتظر 5 سنوات، وعادت الاحكام من الاستئناف بزيادة في المدة: حبيب سنتين، رضا 3 سنوات و 6 شهور مع وقف التنفيذ لظروف صحية، حسين 5 سنوات، منتظر 7 سنوات.

واستكمالا لسلسة الإعتقال والمحاكمة والتحقيق التي يتعرض لها أعضاء جمعية الحقوق المدنية والسياسية (حسم)، يخضع عبدالله السعيد لجلسة التحقيق الثالثة في هيئة التحقيق والإدعاء العام في بريدة يوم الأثنين الخامس من مايو، بعد الجلسة الأولى التي أقيمت في 29/04/2014، والثانية في 01/05/2014.

كما يبدأ الدكتور عبدالكريم الخضر العضو المؤسس في حسم في السابع من مايو إلى جلسة محاكمة أولى، بعد نقض الإستئناف للحكم السابق القاضي بالسجن 3 سنوات نافذة، و5 غير نافذة، ومنع سفر 10 سنوات. وفي ذات اليوم تقام الجلسة الخامسة للمعتقل على خلفية مظاهرات القطيف علي جاسب التحيفة، كما تقام الجلسة الخامسة للشيخ جلال آل جمال والتي يرجح أن تخصص للنطق بالحكم بعد ان وجه المدعي العام تهم: (السعي للإفساد والإخلال بالأمن والطمأنينة العامة-انتاج وتخزين ما من شأنه المساس بالنظام العام-انشاء موقع والدعوة فيه إلى المظاهرات والخروج على ولي الأمر-حيازة وتداول مقاطع فيديو تتعلق باحداث القطيف-الإشتراكات في مجموعات بريدية تحرض ضد الدولة). كما تعقد الجلسة الثانية إلى المتهم بالتستر على المطلوبين وإيوائهم رضا جعفر الربح. أيضا تبدأ سلسلة جلسات جديدة إلى علي الجارودي المتهم: (بالتظاهر-التواصل مع الاعلام-حيازة اقنعه ونقابات نسائية ولافتات مكتوب عليها شعارات وقصاصات ورقيه فيها كلام في السياسية) بعد أن نقض الإستئناف الحكم السابق القاضي بسجنه سنتين، وأحال القضية من جديد إلى قاض آخر.

وتختتم جلسات هذا الأسبوع للنشطاء السياسيين والمدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان والمتظاهرين، بعقد الجلسة الخامسة في محكمة الخبر العامة للمدافع عن حقوق الإنسان مخلف الشمري في الثامن من مايو بتهم: الصلاة في سيهات - زيارة الشيخ عبدالكريم الحبيل - دعوة إصلاحيين للعشاء)، وتعد هذه القضية هي واحدة من مجموع 3 قضايا يخوضها الشمري في المحاكم السعودية، وقد تم اصدار حكم ابتدائي عليه في احداها بالسجن 5 سنوات.

هذا وما تزال محاكمة عضو حسم والمدافع عن حقوق الإنسان محمد البجادي معلقة بسبب رفض القاضي السماح للمتهم بلقاء وكلائه، وإصرار المتهم على حقه في لقاء وكلائه قبل البدء بجلسات المحاكمة، والتي تأتي بعد أن نقض الإستئناف الحكم الصادر مسبقا والقاضي بسجنه 3 سنوات.

Follow-up of Sheikh Al-Nemer’s Prosecution: Fifth Trial, Secret.

European Saudi Society for Human Rights

23/04/2014

Sheikh Nemer Al-Nemer

The fifth trial of Sheikh Nemer Al-Nemer held on Tuesday morning 22/04/2014, just 5 days since the fourth trial. The fifth trial was done entirely in secret to the point where even Al-Nemer’s lawyer and family know about it, where they later found out through local official newspapers that published the details of the trial. 

Unlike the first article of “The Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers”, which states “All persons are entitled to call upon the assistance of a lawyer of their choice to protect and establish their rights and to defend them in all stages of criminal proceedings[1]”, Al-Nemer’s lawyer was not informed of the hearing and he denied Alriyadh Newspaper report that states “his failure to attend the hearing[2]” through his personal Twitter account. “The newspaper statement of my failure to attend the hearing is untrue, and the truth is that I was not informed about it[3]”, Al-Nemer’s lawyer tweet. Al-Nemer’s family visited him one day before the fifth trail but were not informed either, nor Al-Nemer himself.

Al-Nemer is disallowed from having a pen and papers to write out his defense to the charges issued ​​by the public prosecutor that published on 25/03/2013 which is more than a year already, he was allowed to have a pen and some paper after the fourth trial and taken again before last Monday, but it was not enough to respond to more than 30 charges and death penalty in such a limited time with limited stock of paper. Al-Nemer has been detained in a solitary confinement in the Security Forces Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

According to the only witness of the fifth trial, Alriyadh Newspaper, the public prosecutor charges are based on Al-Nemer’s confession; his Khutbah; the arrest and search reports and statements of ten witnesses.

We in the European Saudi Society for Human Rights (ESSHR) highlights that the trial of Sheikh Al-Nemer did not comply with international standards of fair trial, as many violations were committed during the pre-trial period including his “right to counsel; prompt appearance before a judge to challenge the lawfulness of arrest and detention; challenging the chargers; providing adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense; presumption of innocence and providing an appropriate humane[4]”.

Also, many violations were committed during the trial period phase, including his rights to “a specialized court, a trial by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law; public hearing; the right to call and examine witnesses and the right to trial within a reasonable time or to release from detention[5]”.

The next trial is still unknown or if it is even scheduled.

We in the ESSHR are very concerned about continuous unfair trial of Sheikh Al-Nemer. We demand the immediate unconditional release, holding the Saudi authorities’ fully responsible and stressing that non-compliance with fair trial standards will make any decision made ​​by the court unjust, therefore, illegal.

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 Sheikh Al-Nemer’s Prosecution (25/03/2013-22/04/2014)

Order	Date	Timetable	Note
1st Trial	25/03/2013	Took place 260 days after of detention	Faced 33 charges by the public prosecutor, and demands death penalty
2nd Trial	29/04/2013	After 35 days of the 1st trial	Public prosecution did not submit a copy of list to the defense, therefore, the defense could not respond to the charges and the trial ended without scheduling a specific date of the 3rd trial
3rd Trial	23/12/2013	After 238 days of the 2nd trial	One day before the hearing, the lawyer explained that Sheikh Al-Nemer did not get a pen and paper to write a response to the charges. The meeting lasted 5 minutes and ended without scheduling a specific date of the 4th trial
4th Trial	15/04/2014	After 113 days of the 3rd trial	The lawyer was surprisingly informed one day before the trial, where he was attending a court hearing of his client, Sheikh Tawfiq Al-Amer at the Specialized Criminal Court on Monday 14/04/2014. The meeting lasted about an hour and ended without scheduling a specific date of the next trial
5th Trial	22/04/2014	After 5 days of 4th trial	The lawyer nor the Al-Nemer family were informed about the trial date and time, therefore, Al-Nemer couldn’t fully respond due to the limited stock of paper he has and couldn’t consult the lawyer about his written defense.

Follow up for the fourth trial of Sheikh Nemer Al-Nemer, 17/04/2014 http://goo.gl/QvlE5m

If blocking in Saudi Arabia http://goo.gl/gG06K9

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[1]Human Rights Education Associates (HREA): Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers  http://www.hrea.org/index.php?doc_id=223&erc_doc_id=303&category_id=13&category_type=3&group=

[2] Al Riyadh Newspaper: “The Accused of fomenting sectarian strife submit his answer after prevarication for 5th trial”

http://www.alriyadh.com/929447

[3] Personal Twitter account tweets of Sheikh AlNemer’s lawyer, Dr. Sadeq Jubran, denies knowing about the date of the trial.

https://twitter.com/DrSadeqMohamed/status/458657216011448320

https://twitter.com/DrSadeqMohamed/status/458666139183480832

[4] Amnesty: Fair Trials Manual

http://www.amnesty.org/ar/library/info/POL30/002/1998

[5] same as the previous source