2018 Saudi Arabia: Marwan Almuraisy
PEN International and Norwegian PEN condemns the arrest and enforced disappearance of Yemeni writer and social media activist Marwan Almuraisy, who was arrested at his home in Riyadh by Saudi National Security agents on 1 June 2018. It is not known where he is being detained. To date, Almuraisy’s family have been denied information about the charges against him, the location where he is being held and are unable to visit him. The Norwegian PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee has written the following letter to the Saudi authorities, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Almuraisy:
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His Majesty King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques Office of His Majesty
The King Royal Court, Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Oslo, 11th October 2018
Your Majesty,
The Norwegian Writers in Prison Committee is expressing serious concern about the arrest and enforced disappearance of Yemeni writer and social media activist Marwan Almuraisy, who was arrested at his home in Riyadh by Saudi National Security agents on the 1th of June 2018. It is not known where he is being detained. To date, Almuraisy’s family have been denied information about the charges against him, the location where he is being held and are unable to visit him.
We are deeply concerned about Almuraisy’s safety and physical well-being and believes that his arrest is solely related to the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression. We call on the Saudi authorities to immediately release Marwan Almuraisy. At the very least, we urge them to disclose Almuraisy’s whereabouts, the reason for his detention, and to respect his rights as a detainee to legal representation, family visits and medical care.
We also call for the immediate and unconditional release of all other writers currently detained in Saudi Arabia in connection with the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and assembly, in accordance to international standards including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Yours sincerely,
Øivind Hånes
author
Member of Writers in Prison Committee
Norwegian PEN
COPY:
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Oslo
