RIYADH (Middle East Eye) – A Saudi man facing extradition from Morocco for anti-government activism in his home country is to be handed over to Saudi authorities, his brother told Middle East Eye.
Rights groups have warned that Hassan al-Rabea, 26, will likely be subjected to “enforced disappearance, torture, and arbitrary sentences that may lead to his death” in Saudi Arabia.
His brother, Ahmed al-Rabea - who is based in Canada - told MEE that his brother had spoken to him and told him the news.
“They gave me papers to sign, but I refused, and they told me that even if you did not sign, we will hand you over,” he quoted his brother as saying.
Al-Rabea was detained on 14 January at Marrakesh Airport 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”.
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR) has called Moroccan authorities “partners in the crime” and labeled the extradition a “flagrant violation of international law”.
Last week, a Moroccan court ruled that al-Rabea could be extradited, despite concerns about ill-treatment in Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed said it was a “disappointing decision”.
“This shows that Moroccan law is just a cheap commodity for Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Officially the ruling cannot be appealed.
Rights groups have said Hassan is just the latest member of his family to be punished for anti-government protests in Qatif that relatives participated in years ago.
Hassan’s eldest brother, Ali, is in prison facing the death sentence for alleged terrorism. Ahmed told MEE last week the “terrorist” whom Ali is alleged to have helped is Munir, another al-Rabea brother who is wanted for protesting in 2011.
The Switzerland-based MENA Rights Group said it has submitted an urgent request to the United Nations Committee against Torture to stop al-Rabea’s extradition.