ALQST for Human Rights
@ALQST_En
Followers
5K
Following
12
Media
2K
Statuses
3K
ALQST is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that works to defend human rights in Saudi Arabia. الحساب العربي @ALQST_ORG
Saudi Arabia - United Kingdom
Joined October 2019
BREAKING: Basma bint Saud Al Saud and her daughter Suhoud, detained since March 2019, have been released.
10
70
157
Distressing footage from Khamis Mushait orphanage showing security forces and masked men storming the site and assaulting girls who were protesting their conditions. The #Saudi authorities must open an investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable.
96
117
142
“The fact that @LoujainHathloul has been sentenced under the counter-terrorism law, based on charges relating solely to her peaceful activism, is the latest travesty of justice in a trial that has been flawed from start to finish,” said ALQST’s Executive Director @alaa_q.
5
60
150
🚨 Saudi fitness instructor Manahel al-Otaibi, who is being tried before the SCC for not wearing an abaya and tweeting under feminist hashtags, has been held in solitary confinement with no air conditioning for more than a week. #FreeManahel.
7
122
144
Today marks six years since the heinous murder of journalist #JamalKhashoggi. As reports by the UN and US intelligence made clear, the murder implicated Saudi officials at the highest levels. Yet #JusticeForJamal has still not been served, paving the way for further abuses.
5
87
137
In the #Saudi authorities’ longest prison sentence ever for a peaceful activist, the Specialised Criminal Court of Appeal on 9 August handed down terms totalling 34 years without suspension to women’s rights campaigner Salma al-Shehab. #SaudiArabia.
29
100
115
🚨 On 2 October, the SCC sentenced Shadli (brother of Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti), Ataullah & Ibrahim Saleh al-Huwaiti to death. The family members were detained in 2020 for opposing eviction to make way for #Neom. We condemn the sentences and call for their release. #SaudiArabia
10
68
114
Today marks 5 years since the murder of journalist #JamalKhashoggi, who was assassinated and dismembered by a team of Saudi agents. For those in London, join us outside the @SaudiEmbassyUK for a candlelit vigil in his honour, and to support ongoing calls for #JusticeForJamal.
4
73
108
ALQST mourns the death of its Executive Director, icon of the Emirati human rights movement Alaa Al-Siddiq, in a tragic traffic accident. Alaa was a friend, colleague and sister to all of those around her, and always did what she could to help others.
8
54
109
🚨 Saudi activist Manahel al-Otaibi has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. As seen in this interview, she believed she could express her views and wear what she liked on the basis of the Crown Prince's declarations, but has been sentenced for exercising these exact freedoms.
13
94
106
Today marks four years since the gruesome murder of journalist #JamalKhashoggi, who was assassinated and dismembered by a team of Saudi agents. His body has never been found. In light of the total absence of justice for the murder, we continue to call for #JusticeForJamal.
6
59
93
🚨 Saudi prisoner of conscience Salma al-Shehab's jail term was recently reduced from 27 years to four (with four years suspended). We expect her to be released within days, and urge Saudi authorities to ensure she is granted full freedom. #FreeSalma. ➡️
5
59
101
ALQST is delighted to welcome Lina Alhathloul to the team. She assumes the role of Head of Monitoring and Communications.
9
12
91
🚨 @UniversityLeeds student Salma al-Shehab and seven other Saudi women have been on hunger strike since 23 March, in protest over their detention and sham trial and demanding their release. Show your support- call on #SaudiArabia's authorities to #FreeSalma and the women now.
6
77
85
🚨 Two sisters from #SaudiArabia, social media activists Manahel (pictured right) and Fouz al-Otaibi (pictured left), have been charged for not wearing “decent” clothes and tweeting under feminist hashtags including #EndMaleGuardianship.
8
57
83
Congratulations to courageous human rights defender @LoujainHathloul and her family: she was released today by the #Saudi authorities after more than 1000 days in prison, where she was tortured.
2
38
85
🚨 Saudi activist Abdulrahman al-Khalidi has been on hunger strike for 40+ days in Busmantsi Detention Centre, protesting the Bulgarian authorities' violations of his rights. Despite court rulings in favour of granting him asylum he remains in detention, where he’s faced abuse.
3
35
87
Women's rights in Saudi Arabia between reform and repression
9
39
78
Salma al-Shehab was sentenced to 34 years in prison for tweeting in support of women human rights defenders in #SaudiArabia. Two years on from her arrest, we stand in solidarity with her and call for her release. #FreeSalma
2
52
70
Court documents highlight gross judicial flaws in @LoujainHathloul’s trial. Her next hearing in the Specialised Criminal Court is scheduled to take place on 28 December, at which the verdict may be issued. #FreeLoujain #StandWithSaudiHeroes
3
55
72
🚨 Last month, #SaudiArabia’s Specialised Criminal Court sentenced 18-year old secondary school student Manal al-Gafiri to 18 years in jail and a travel ban of the same length for posting tweets in support of prisoners of conscience. She was only 17 at the time of her arrest.
3
53
62
Happy Birthday Abdulrahman. A birthday message from our team to Saudi aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, who turns 40 today. Once again, he is spending it behind bars and away from his loved ones. Send your support and call on #SaudiArabia's authorities to #FreeSadhan now.
2
34
47
Saudi women’s rights activist and @UniversityLeeds student Salma al-Shehab was recently sentenced to 34 years in prison based on peaceful tweets. Today, 30+ NGOs call on the international community to press #SaudiArabian authorities to #FreeSalma now.
6
51
60
⚠️ A video that #SaudiArabia's authorities don't want you to see. In a chilling broadcast, now deleted following a backlash on Twitter, Saudi state TV recently interviewed a man "jailed for a tweet". (1/2)
5
53
62
Human rights defender Dr. Mohammed al-Qahtani has now completed his 10-year prison sentence, yet his fate is unknown, with the #Saudi authorities subjecting him to enforced disappearance since 24 October. Where is Dr. Mohammed al-Qahtani? . Free Mohammed al-Qahtani.
5
43
54
The assessment by US intelligence that MBS approved the #Khashoggi operation highlights a clear understanding of his brutal style of rule, and should lead to intensified calls for measures to curb the #Saudi authorities’ egregious violations. More here:.
9
35
61
BREAKING: Ali al-Nimr, a young man detained since 2012 for participating in protests when he was a child, and who previously faced a death sentence, has been released today. #SaudiArabia
4
27
51
Congratulations to Loujain al-Hathloul @LoujainHathloul, awarded the 2020 Magnitsky Human Rights Award for her activism for women’s rights in #SaudiArabia. Today is Day 21 of #LoujainHungerStrike. #G20 #G20SaudiArabia #G20RiyadhSummit
4
22
55
Congratulations to @LoujainHathloul, who has been shortlisted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (@PACE_News) for the 2020 Václav #HavelPrize for her women’s rights advocacy. . #FreeLoujain #StandWithSaudiHeroes
0
35
53
Abdullah Alaoudh (@aalodah) talks about his father @Salman_Al_Odah, who has been arbitrarily detained in #SaudiArabia since 2017.
2
19
53
In September 2017, the #Saudi authorities carried out a wave of arrests targeting dozens of clerics, academics, activists, writers, and journalists. The majority remain in prison to this day. From 9 September, join our campaign calling for their release. #معتقلو_سبتمبر
0
53
47
Many congratulations to Loujain al-Hathloul @LoujainHathloul, who was today awarded the 2020 Václav #HavelPrize for her activism for women’s rights in #SaudiArabia. #StandWithSaudiHeroes.
0
29
48
Abdulrahman al-Khalidi is at risk of imminent deportation from #Bulgaria to #SaudiArabia, where he would be at real risk of rights violations due to his activism. 📢 With 15+ NGOs, we urge the Bulgarian authorities to immediately halt his deportation. ➡️
2
34
48
📢 Sunday marks two years since the arrest of @UniversityLeeds student Salma al-Shehab, who was sentenced in #SaudiArabia to 34 years in jail over tweets. Join us, @IndexCensorship and hundreds of NGOs and academics in a Twitter storm urging the Saudi authorities to #FreeSalma.
4
37
47
It’s been six years since the state-sponsored murder of Saudi journalist #JamalKhashoggi. ALQST, partners and activists gathered outside @SaudiEmbassyUK, remembering Jamal, other victims of #SaudiArabia's unrelenting repression, and reinforcing the need for real accountability.
2
40
47
🚨Following @POTUS' recent visit to #SaudiArabia, this Wednesday Senator @ChrisMurphyCT will be in conversation with ALQST's @LinaAlhathloul to discuss re-examining the US-Saudi relationship. Join live on Twitter or Facebook (via ChrisMurphyCT) at 1pm ET/ 6pm BST/ 7pm CET.
4
18
46
The countdown begins :. In 100 days, Saudi Arabia will be hosting the Internet Governance Forum (@intgovforum). We are 40 organisations calling on the #Saudi authorities to free detainees jailed for their online expression ahead of the event. 🧵Among those unjustly imprisoned:
2
37
45
Today marks two years since the tragic death of Emirati human rights icon Alaa Al-Siddiq. At 3pm BST, we will be holding a vigil outside @UAEEmbassyUK, celebrating Alaa’s immense legacy, and calling for the release of PoCs in the #UAE ahead of #COP28. #AlaaNeverForgotten
2
26
44
🚨 BREAKING: #SaudiArabia's Specialised Criminal Court has resentenced activist & PhD student Salma al-Shehab to 27 years in prison. Al-Shehab, sentenced to 34 years last year by the SCC Appeal Court, saw her case sent back for retrial following a decision by the Supreme Court.
5
41
47
"#SaudiArabia is not only whitewashing its image by investing in sports. in the long run it's also about control and influence". Watch ALQST's @LinaAlhathloul on @democracynow discussing the Saudi authorities' sportswashing attempts in light of the PGA-LIV Golf merger.
PGA’s merger with the Saudi-funded LIV Golf tour is part of a broader "whitewashing" of the country’s human rights violations, says @LinaAlhathloul. “Money has spoken. Money has won.”
1
14
39
Today marks seven years since Waleed Abu al-Khair was arrested for his peaceful human rights work. ALQST calls on the #Saudi authorities to #FreeWaleed and drop the charges against him. #StandWithSaudiHeroes
0
49
41
ALQST welcomes Alaa Al-Siddiq (@alaa_q) as Executive Director, and Joshua Cooper (@joshcooperate) as Deputy Executive Director.
3
6
39
Three years ago, women’s rights activist and @UniversityLeeds PhD student Salma al-Shehab was arrested in #SaudiArabia. She is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for her peaceful activity on @X. Join us in calling for her release. #FreeSalma. ➡️
4
34
40
🚨 Social media activist and fitness instructor Manahel al-Otaibi is due to appear in court tomorrow, Wednesday 26 July, at the SCC in Riyadh. She has been imprisoned since November for not wearing an abaya and for tweeting under the #maleguardianship hashtag.
3
49
40
BREAKING: #Saudi HRDs Loujain al-Hathloul, Waleed Abu al-Khair and Naseema al-Sadah nominated for 2020 #NobelPrize. ALQST thanks those who supported this nomination, and renews its call for Saudi human rights champions to be honoured with such awards.
0
35
42
🚨 Death sentences have been upheld against three members of the Huwaitat tribe in relation to their peaceful opposition to @NEOM. We call urgently for pressure on the #SaudiArabia authorities, including from businesses, to quash these unjust verdicts.
1
28
38
Cleric and reformer @salman_alodah has been arbitrarily detained since September 2017 and is facing 37 trumped-up charges. #G20 participants must place human rights at the centre of #G20SaudiArabia, and call for the release of all prisoners of conscience. #StandWithSaudiHeroes
3
23
37
ALQST welcomes Saudi journalist and filmmaker Safa Al Ahmad (@ghariba33) as its new Acting Director from today. We are grateful to the organisation’s founder, Yahya Assiri (@abo1fares), for all he achieved during his time heading ALQST.
6
14
38
Today is the 39th birthday of Saudi humanitarian worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, sentenced to 20 years for peaceful comments on Twitter. Watch his sister @AreejASadhan talk about his case, and join her in calling on the #Saudi authorities to #FreeSadhan.
5
23
38
In #SaudiArabia, countless individuals have been arrested for their activism, advocating for reform, or simply voicing opinions. Many are still in prison, or facing heavy restrictions on their lives. We call for their immediate and unconditional release. #StandWithSaudiHeroes
11
31
38
ALQST is honoured to announce that it will receive @humanrights1st’s 2020 William D. Zabel Human Rights Award for its work defending human rights in #SaudiArabia. The award will be presented at a virtual event on 21 October 2020. Read more here:.
6
21
37
Saudi women who contributed to change in #SaudiArabia were targeted in an arrest campaign three years ago. Some of them are still in detention to this day. #InternationalWomensDay #WomensDay #IWD2021.#StandWithSaudiHeroes #SaudiWD2021
1
35
35
#SaudiArabia's SCC (terrorism court) today sentenced @LoujainHathloul to 5 years and 8 months in prison, with 2 years and 10 months suspended, meaning that she is expected to be released in March 2021.
1
31
37
Today marks three years since the arrest of #Saudi women’s rights activist Salma al-Shehab, who remains imprisoned for peaceful tweets. We stand in solidarity with her and continue to call on #SaudiArabia’s authorities to #FreeSalma immediately.
4
24
37
ALQST has learned that the #Saudi authorities have carried out new arrests of journalists, writers and activists, both women and men, in recent days. They have also stepped up their torture, sexual harassment & abuse of existing prisoners of conscience.
1
45
37
Two years ago, Saudi fitness trainer Manahel al-Otaibi was arrested for her choice of clothing and support for women’s rights, freedoms she thought she had (as seen in this 2019 interview). She's since been sentenced to 11 years in prison, and faced repeated abuse. #FreeManahel
2
34
39
Today marks one year since #SaudiArabia’s authorities sentenced Salma al-Shehab and Noura al-Qahtani to 34 years (reduced to 27 on appeal) and 45 years, respectively, for their peaceful online activism. ALQST urges the Saudi authorities to #FreeSalma and Nourah immediately.
1
33
37
Today humanitarian worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan turns 39. He should be celebrating with his friends and family. Instead, he is spending another birthday behind bars, sentenced to 20 years for peaceful comments on Twitter. We call on the #Saudi authorities to #FreeSadhan now.
0
22
37
🚨The UK High Court has granted permission for ALQST founder Yahya Assiri to serve a legal claim against #SaudiArabia for #Pegasus cyberattacks. Read more ⬇️.
1
24
36
Today marks 100 days since #Saudi fitness instructor Manahel al-Otaibi last had contact with her family. She remains held incommunicado. In this video, Manahel’s sister, Fouz (@zoozto20) talks about her advocacy for her sister. We urge the Saudi authorities to #FreeManahel now.
4
22
33
ALQST took part in a vigil today outside the #Saudi embassy in London, calling for the release of Abdulrahman al-Sadhan other peaceful activists facing unjust and long-term prison sentences in #SaudiArabia. #FreeSadhan #30DaysForSadhan #StandWithSaudiHeroes
1
24
35
Today marks three years since the #Saudi authorities launched a wave of arrests against WHRDs. Some remain in detention to this day. These women had been at the forefront of the women’s rights movement in #SaudiArabia for years. #StandWithSaudiHeroes.
1
29
36
Before her death, our former Executive Director Alaa Al-Siddiq was developing a new project on human rights in the Arabian Peninsula. Today, in recognition of her outstanding work in the field, we are launching the project in her name and memory.
1
18
34
Happy birthday, @LoujainHathloul! Today and every day, you are an inspiration to human rights defenders, feminists and people all over the world. It’s high time that #SaudiArabia’s authorities lift the unlawful travel ban imposed on you and your family. #LetThemFly
1
19
34
In 2013, @Salman_Al_Odah wrote to the #Saudi authorities calling for prisoners of conscience to be released and popular grievances addressed. In September 2017, he tweeted a prayer for reconciliation between #SaudiArabia and Qatar, which is what led to his arrest.
1
10
29
#Saudi #HRD Mohammed al-Qahtani has now completed his 10-year sentence, but remains forcibly disappeared. Outside @KSAconsulateCH and @SaudiEmbassyUK, we delivered a letter on behalf of 14 NGOs calling on the #SaudiArabia authorities to disclose his whereabouts and release him.
0
26
32
At last. After over two years of enforced disappearance, without any outside contact and with #SaudiArabia’s authorities providing inadequate, misleading information, detained HRD Mohammed al-Qahtani has been able to contact his family. He must now be released. #FreeAlQahtani
1
23
36
"Saudi courts are escalating their repression and unveiling publicly their empty promises of reform. How can the world believe the country is reforming when a citizen is going to have his head cut off over tweets on an anonymous account?" @LinaAlhathloul .
4
30
32
Our condolences to the family of journalist Saleh al-Shehi, who died in mysterious circumstances yesterday, after being released from prison two months ago. We call for an impartial, prompt, thorough, independent and effective investigation into his death.
1
23
36
Saudi blogger Raif Badawi (@raif_badawi), detained since June 2012 and sentenced to ten years in prison for his writings, was released today after the expiry of his sentence. He remains under a ten-year travel ban. #SaudiArabia
3
27
34
Happy Birthday @LoujainHathloul, and thank you for being an inspiration to us all. 🩵. We wish you a happy year ahead, in which you can live and travel freely- it is time for #SaudiArabia's authorities to finally lift the arbitrary travel ban imposed on you and your family.
1
19
33
Many individuals remain forcibly disappeared in #SaudiArabia today, held at unknown locations without any access to the outside world. On International #DayoftheDisappeared, we call on the Saudi authorities to reveal their fate and whereabouts immediately. Where are they?
1
35
28
Human rights defender Loujain al-Hathloul has been summoned by #SaudiArabia's secret police (the Mabaheth) for unknown reasons. Al-Hathloul was conditionally released in February under heavy restrictions, including 3 years of probation and a 5-year travel ban. #FreeLoujain
0
34
33
Today marks one year since humanitarian worker Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan last had a phone call with his family, their only contact since he was forcibly disappeared in March 2018. ALQST calls on the #Saudi authorities to release him immediately. #FreeSadhan #WhereIsSadhan
2
32
34
Add your support to @amnesty’s petition, urging #SaudiArabia’s authorities to release all individuals wrongfully imprisoned for exercising their freedom of expression. ⬇️.
0
17
34
The next trial session of Islamic scholar Hassan al-Maliki (@HsnFrhanALmalki) is scheduled to take place on 6 March. The public prosecution is still calling for the death penalty to be issued against him, on a number of vague and unlawful charges. #الحرية_لحسن_فرحان_المالكي
0
29
35
Behind Saudi Arabia’s soaring fantasies lies a harsh reality. ALQST’s Annual Report for 2023 highlights the widening gap between the official narrative and the harsh reality of human rights abuses in #SaudiArabia. 🧵. Read it here:.
4
27
33
Yesterday, ALQST’s @LinaAlHathloul spoke in a public event in Newcastle, addressing #SaudiArabia’s ownership of @NUFC and the need for all to speak out. ALQST thanks the many fans, media outlets and councillors who attended and looks forward to building on the event’s success.
3
16
32
It's six years today since the execution on 2 January 2016 of prominent cleric Nimr al-Nimr, along with 46 individuals. Al-Nimr was sentenced following an unfair trial at the Specialised Criminal Court (SCC). #SaudiArabia #EndTheDeathPenalty
2
23
32
Saudi Arabia’s #G20 presidency is no longer the PR opportunity that Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman dreamed of, argues ALQST’s Head of Advocacy Julia Legner (@JuliaLegner) ahead of the #G20SaudiArabia summit on 21-22 November.
2
17
29
Today #SaudiArabia's SCC (terrorism court) also sentenced human rights defender Mayaa al-Zahrani to 5 years and 8 months in prison, with 2 years and 10 months suspended, exactly the same as for @LoujainHathloul.
2
32
32
After years of being under an arbitrary travel ban, Saudi human rights defender Loujain al-Hathloul has finally been granted access to challenge it in court. 📢 With 13 NGOs we call on #SaudiArabia's authorities to end the harassment of released HRDs. ➡️
1
22
30
BREAKING: ALQST confirms the death of Dr. Musa al-Qarni in prison. Al-Qarni was subjected to brutal torture, and the #Saudi authorities deliberately harmed him by giving him unsuitable medication. ALQST questions the causes of death & calls for an international investigation.
6
32
32
Out today:. “Shrouded in Secrecy: Prisons and Detention Centres in #SaudiArabia”. ALQST’s latest report presents an in-depth study of the #Saudi prison system, identifying an emerging trend of increased abuse of prisoners’ rights. Read it here:.
3
31
31
Today marks 4 years since the #Saudi authorities’ crackdown on dissent in September 2017, targeting clerics, academics, activists, writers and journalists. The majority remain unjustly detained. Use the hashtag #معتقلو_سبتمبر to call for their release!.
2
38
34
The video footage circulating since early Wednesday morning, showing #Saudi security and police officers assaulting young women in an orphanage in Khamis Mushait, highlights the unrelenting state misogyny in #SaudiArabia. #ايتام_خميس_مشيط.
5
24
29
ALQST categorically rejects the verdicts handed down in the #JamalKhashoggi case. The court is neither fair nor independent and has not tried the real defendant. Executing those who carried out the operation means killing key witnesses. @ALQST_En demands an international trial.
One year after the gruesome murder of #JamalKhashoggi, NGOs renew their call and demand #JusticeForJamal.
3
33
28