RIYADH (Middle East Eye) – The brother of a Saudi national being held in Morocco has called on authorities in Rabat to shield him from extradition over concerns for his safety if he is returned to the kingdom.
Rights groups have warned that Hassan al-Rabea, who was arrested on 14 January at Marrakesh Airport, is at “serious risk” of arbitrary detention, torture and an unfair trial in his homeland.
Rabea, 26, was detained on an arrest warrant issued at the request of Saudi authorities who are seeking to try him for leaving the kingdom “irregularly” with the help of “terrorists”.
But his brother, Ahmed al-Rabea, and rights advocates told Middle East Eye that Hassan is only the latest family member to be punished for anti-government protests in Qatif that relatives participated in years ago.
Ahmed’s eldest brother, Ali, is in prison facing the death sentence for alleged terrorism. Ahmed says the “terrorist” whom Ali is alleged to have helped is Munir, another al-Rabea brother who is wanted for protesting in 2011.
Two cousins, Hussein and Ahmed, were among 37 men executed on 23 April 2019 following what rights groups have said were unfair trials for various charges, including protest-related and terrorism offences.
The family, who are members of Saudi’s Shia minority, live in Awamiya, a town in the Qatif province that has been the site of protests over government discrimination against the community.
“This is how they do it. First, they finished with all of the town…the next step is who are the friends. The third is family. This is the process,” Ahmed told MEE.
“They were starting on Hassan so he took the decision that he had to leave.”
But now Ahmed said his brother, whom he spoke with this past week from a prison in Morocco, is terrified that he will be sent back.
Their fears are heightened because of the case of Osama al-Hasani, a Saudi-Australian national, who was deported from Morocco to Saudi Arabia in the middle of the night on 13 March 2021.
Hasani, who had been cleared of the criminal charges used to seek his extradition and whose family reportedly believe he was sought over his political views, has been held incommunicado ever since, according to MENA Rights Group.