Saudi Arabia: Ahmadis Persecuted In The Kingdom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AHRC-STM-247-2013
December 27, 2013

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission

Saudi Arabia: Ahmadis Persecuted In The Kingdom

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to forward this statement regarding persons who chose to join the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam and the treatment they received thereafter.

It is extremely perturbing that we have to bring to the notice of the world’s community the plight of two innocent, loyal citizens of Saudi Arabia who had committed no offence at all, were arrested on 14 May 2012 just because they had chosen to join the The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to forward this statement regarding persons who chose to join the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam and the treatment they received thereafter.

It is extremely perturbing that we have to bring to the notice of the world’s community the plight of two innocent, loyal citizens of Saudi Arabia who had committed no offence at all, were arrested on 14 May 2012 just because they had chosen to join the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for the betterment of their understanding and practice of the teachings of Islam.

It is a heart rendering story and nearly a year and a half on they are being shuttled from one prison to another. Their families are not allowed access to them and since May 2013, no one is even aware of their whereabouts or the state of their condition. This is appalling and shocking for the world community. The details that are available about these two victims are scanty. We seek the support and cooperation of the world community for their release. The objective is to make a resolute effort to win the release of these two victims and also to convince the Saudi authorities to refrain from such actions which contravene all the human and religious values of Islam.

The first victim is Sultan Hamid Maarzouk al-Anzi. He is a resident of a small settlement Ahrar, Al Azizya close to the northern border of Saudi Arabia. The local people raided his house on 14 May 2012 and arrested him for questioning and thereafter transferred him to the general prison in Ahrar. No reason for his arrest and at that moment no charge was made against him. The other victim Mr Saudh Faleh Awad al-Anzi was also questioned and arrested in Ahrar on Monday 14 May 2012. He is also the resident of the same settlement Ahrar al Azizya close to the northern border of Saudi Arabia.

They were handed to two clerics who persistently persuaded them to give up their faith and return to what the clerics purported to be Islam. They were told they would be charged under apostasy in Islam, the punishment for which is death. Since then it is understood that the cleric keep on visiting them and put pressure on them to leave the Ahmadiyya Community. They have been given no access to any legal advice and they have not been handed in an official charge sheet. They both have families; Mr Faleh has three children. The condition of their families is disgraceful. They have no one to provide for them and it is torturous to have no information absolutely about the whereabouts of their husbands.

In this horrifying scenario it has become incumbent that this tragic incident must be exposed to the world to make the world realise and be aware of such horrifying incidents in Saudi Arabia. It is also the intention to urge all human rights institutions and the diplomatic community to urge the Saudi Arabia authorities to refrain from such acts of horrific violations of human rights and respect the recent guidelines on freedom of religion issued by the European Union. It is hoped that we shall soon be able to see a change of heart on the part of the Saudi authorities and enable these two innocent nationals of Saudi Arabia to enjoy their fundamental freedoms in every respect of life for the betterment of their understanding and practice of the teachings of Islam.

It is a heart rendering story and nearly a year and a half on they are being shuttled from one prison to another. Their families are not allowed access to them and since May 2013, no one is even aware of their whereabouts or the state of their condition. This is appalling and shocking for the world community. The details that are available about these two victims are scanty. We seek the support and cooperation of the world community for their release. The objective is to make a resolute effort to win the release of these two victims and also to convince the Saudi authorities to refrain from such actions which contravene all the human and religious values of Islam.

The first victim is Sultan Hamid Maarzouk al-Anzi. He is a resident of a small settlement Ahrar, Al Azizya close to the northern border of Saudi Arabia. The local people raided his house on 14 May 2012 and arrested him for questioning and thereafter transferred him to the general prison in Ahrar. No reason for his arrest and at that moment no charge was made against him. The other victim Mr Saudh Faleh Awad al-Anzi was also questioned and arrested in Ahrar on Monday 14 May 2012. He is also the resident of the same settlement Ahrar al Azizya close to the northern border of Saudi Arabia.

They were handed to two clerics who persistently persuaded them to give up their faith and return to what the clerics purported to be Islam. They were told they would be charged under apostasy in Islam, the punishment for which is death. Since then it is understood that the cleric keep on visiting them and put pressure on them to leave the Ahmadiyya Community. They have been given no access to any legal advice and they have not been handed in an official charge sheet. They both have families; Mr Faleh has three children. The condition of their families is disgraceful. They have no one to provide for them and it is torturous to have no information absolutely about the whereabouts of their husbands.

In this horrifying scenario it has become incumbent that this tragic incident must be exposed to the world to make the world realise and be aware of such horrifying incidents in Saudi Arabia. It is also the intention to urge all human rights institutions and the diplomatic community to urge the Saudi Arabia authorities to refrain from such acts of horrific violations of human rights and respect the recent guidelines on freedom of religion issued by the European Union. It is hoped that we shall soon be able to see a change of heart on the part of the Saudi authorities and enable these two innocent nationals of Saudi Arabia to enjoy their fundamental freedoms in every respect of life.

The Asian Human Rights Commission urges the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to initiate an inquiry into the arbitrary arrest and detention of persons from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and ensure that justice is provided for these people.

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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

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