On Saturday, 28 August 2010, the Grievances (Administrative) Court in Riyadh is expected to announce a verdict in the case of “Judge Al-Reshoudi Vs. the Ministry of Interior”, a lawsuit filed against the Ministry regarding Judge Suliman Ibrahim Al-Reshoudi, who has been detained incommunicado without charge for more than three years.

Further Information

Judge Suliman Al-Reshoudi is a former judge and leading human rights defender, and is a member of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA).

The defence team has published a statement calling upon jurists, lawyers, and human rights activists to attend the upcoming court hearing to monitor the trial and ensure justice. Front Line previously issued an appeal on behalf of Judge Suliman Al-Reshoudi on 25 March 2010 and an update on the case on 21 July 2010. In addition, Front Line sent an observer to attend the most recent court hearing on 7 August 2010.

During the court hearing on 7 August, a heavy police presence was noticed around the court building. The presiding judge allowed several Saudi activists and Front Line's representative to attend the hearing, and allowed the audience to express their comments. The Directorate of General Investigations (the Ministry of Interior) failed to attend, and thus did not respond to the defence team’s legal memoranda or bring about charges against Judge Suliman Al-Reshoudi.

As requested by the court, the defence team submitted an Arabic-translated copy of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD)'s opinion on the case, which they had previously submitted in English during a court hearing on 16 June 2010. The WGAD declared in 2007 that the arrest of Judge Suliman Al-Reshoudi and his colleagues was arbitrary and was not in accordance with international standards (Opinion No. 27/2007 on November 28, 2007). The defence team asked the court to immediately release Judge Suliman Al-Reshoudi in accordance with its precedents in other similar cases. However, the Judicial Committee decided to adjourn the hearing for study and meditation before reaching a verdict.

Please see the original Front Line Urgent Appeal and Front Line Update on this case.