Haydee Dijkstra, the International Counsel of Osama Alhasani, denounced the decision of the Moroccan court n March 10, 2021, to deport Alhasani to Saudi Arabia.
She expressed her shock at the “extraordinary and disappointing” decision in an official statement, stressing that Alاasani’s deportation to Saudi Arabia puts his life at great risk, for which is responsible.
Below is the full statement:
Press Release on behalf of the family of Mr Osama Alhasani
Today, a Moroccan court approved the extradition of Mr Osama Alhasani, an Australian and Saudi Arabian dual national, to Saudi Arabia after his arrest in Morocco on 8 February.
This is an extraordinary and disappointing decision. Mr Alhasani’s extradition was approved by the Moroccan court despite urgent concerns raised of the real and credible risk to Mr Alhasani’s fundamental rights, safety and security if he is extradited to Saudi Arabia.
On 5 March 2021, an Urgent Appeal was submitted on behalf of Mr Alhasani to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of freedom of opinion and expression, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment which requested that the Special Rapporteurs urgently raise with the Moroccan authorities violations to Mr Alhasani’s rights in Morocco, and the credible risk of significant violations if he is extradited to Saudi Arabia. It is of
considerable worry that the UN Special Rapporteurs have, as of yet, taken no steps to address Mr Alhasani’s case.
The Special Rapporteurs were informed of credible concerns that Mr Alhasani is being targeted by the Government of Saudi Arabia for political opinions he has expressed which have been critical of the Government, and that his rights to freedom of expression and association are therefore being violated as result of his arrest in Morocco, and might be irreparably violated if he is extradited to Saudi Arabia. Special Rapporteurs were asked to look to Saudi Arabia’s evidenced pattern of abuse and violations of detainees as demonstrating the credible and real risk that Mr Alhasani will not receive a fair trial in Saudi Arabia, and that his fundamental due process rights and right to health and safety would be at significant risk in Saudi Arabia.
Extradition of Mr Alhasani to Saudi Arabia would be in violation of Morocco’s obligations under the Convention against Torture, of which it is a signatory, not to extradite any person to a State where there are substantial grounds to believe the person is in danger of being tortured. There is extensive evidence that Saudi Arabia regularly violates this fundamental right against torture and abusive treatment, particularly for individuals detained due to their human rights activism, or perceived opposition or criticism
of the Saudi Arabian Government With today’s decision approving Saudi Arabia’s extradition request, Mr Alhasani could be transferred to Saudi Arabia at any moment. UN Special Rapporteurs are therefore called upon to take urgent steps to protect Mr Alhasani’s life, security and rights by raising his case with the Moroccan authorities, and the
Government of Australia is called upon to publicly oppose the extradition of its own national to Saudi Arabia.
