Original Source: www.amnesty.org
As Saudi Arabia gears up to host the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) from December 15 to 19, Amnesty International has urged the government to release individuals unjustly imprisoned for their online speech. Despite advocating for “human rights in the digital age,” numerous activists, a physician, and an aid worker remain in detention merely for expressing their opinions online. A global campaign, gathering over 100,000 signatures demanding their release, has been launched by Amnesty activists, highlighting the widespread concern for freedom of expression in the monarchy.
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the IGF presents a stark contrast to its ongoing repression of free speech; it raises critical questions about its sincerity in championing human rights. Many activists, like Manahel al-Otaibi, endure harsh sentences simply for voicing their views on social media. Additionally, the recent detention of foreign visitors for expressing political dissent underscores the regime’s harsh stance against any form of critique, essentially stifling discourse both locally and internationally.
For Saudi Arabia to genuinely embrace its role in promoting digital human rights, it must demonstrate a definitive change by releasing all individuals unfairly detained for their online expressions. The country’s commitment to reform can only be validated through the easing of constraints on civic freedoms and an open dialogue with human rights advocates. Without these foundational steps, the upcoming IGF discussions risk devolving into a façade, masking the kingdom’s troubling human rights violations.
