Saudi Arabia: Yemeni writer Marwan Almuraisy forcibly disappeared

Marwan Almuraisy

RAN 07/18

Available in Arabic Word and PDF 

19 September 2018 - PEN International 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.

PEN is 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. PEN calls 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.

PEN also calls 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.

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Please send appeals:

• Calling on the Saudi authorities to disclose Almuraisy’s whereabouts and to ensure that he has full access to family visits, legal representation and adequate medical care whilst in detention;

• Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Almuraisy and all other writers currently detained in Saudi Arabia solely in connection with the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and assembly.

Appeals to:

King and Prime Minister

 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

 Fax: (via Ministry of Interior) +966 11 403 3125 Twitter: @KingSalman S

alutation: Your Majesty

Minister of Interior

 His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Naif

 Ministry of the Interior

 P.O. Box 2933, Airport Road, Riyadh 11134

 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

 Fax: +966 11 403 3125 Twitter: @MOISaudiArabia

Salutation: Your Highness

Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Saudi Arabia in your country if possible

Please send us copies of any appeals you send and of any responses you receive***

Background

Marwan Almuraisy, 36, is a Yemeni citizen who has been living in Saudi Arabia since 2003. He has worked as a journalist and TV presenter for many media companies such as al-Majed, al-Ressala, MBC and Sabak Journal. Almuraisy specialises in digital media; and he was regularly invited to give talks about his work. In January 2014, Almuraisy published a book, Lbn ala’sfour (Milk of the bird), in which he reproduced 140 tweets posted by several twitter users, which he considered to be amusing. He has also published articles on a variety of issues, including on how to fund personal projects.

The situation for freedom of expression and opinion in Saudi Arabia has recently deteriorated with writers and activists being arrested and arbitrary detained. PEN International has long been campaigning for the release of many writers in Saudi Arabia such as Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh, blogger Raif Badawi, writer Nadhir al-Majid and lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair.

PEN continues to call on the Saudi authorities to protect the rights of all individuals to freely express their views, whether as citizens or foreigners, as protected under international human rights standards.

Click here to read PEN International's joint submission to the United Nations on the situation of freedom of expression and writers at risk in Saudi Arabia through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism.

For any further information, please contact Nael Georges, PEN International, Koops Mill Mews, 162-164 Abbey Street, London SE1 2AN | Tel: +44 (0) 207 405 0338 | Email: Nael.Georges@pen-international.org