“We welcome all the releases (and sincerely hope the Saudi regime) will end arbitrary detention and the arrest of prisoners of conscience once and for all”.
“Egyptian criminal procedures code obligates the authorities to make sure that they do not try a person for the same crime more than once. Hoda is a human rights lawyer, so it’s no secret why she’s being targeted…She provided legal aid to everyone without discrimination, without basing it on political affiliation. And that, of course, angered the authorities because it shows honesty – and that, to them, is dangerous”.
“He is small potatoes, but he’s also not the only one. We’ve seen some pretty low-profile folks who’ve gotten ridiculously long sentences in Saudi Arabia in similar circumstances too… they weren’t well-known activists. They had a couple dozen followers or something on Twitter, but they’re still detained because no dissent will be tolerated.”
“The Biden administration’s reversal and eventual full embrace of MBS solidified his rehabilitation within the international community following the gruesome murder of Jamal Khashoggi. . . . The result has been to elevate MBS as untouchable and greenlight his ruthless repression.”
“Saudi Arabia’s creative industries will not thrive -– let alone attract investment -– until the authorities recognise and fully respect the human rights of all its citizens.”
“[If the delay to the JDAMs is deliberate, it] would be the first instance since this war began where the administration took such an action on weapons we know have been used in Gaza.”
“It is long past time for the United States to use its leverage and uphold U.S. law to end Israel’s indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza and have this war come to an end,” said Seth Binder, director of advocacy at the Middle East Democracy Center, a coalition member. “The humanitarian catastrophe that millions of Palestinians are suffering through and its seismic moral and strategic consequences should compel members of Congress to do everything in its power to secure a cessation of hostilities.”
“The Egyptian authorities should ensure the safety of his family in Egypt, and end their smear campaigns and the relentless, years-long crackdown on human rights groups and independent organizations.”