The statement, read out at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, acknowledged Saudi reforms, including the announcement last month that restrictions on the rights of women to travel would be lifted, but said deep concerns still remained.
“However, we remain deeply concerned at the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia. Civil society actors in Saudi Arabia still face persecution and intimidation,” Australia’s ambassador Sally Mansfield said, reading out the statement.
- “We are concerned at reports of torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, unfair trials and harassment of individuals engaged in promoting and defending human rights, their families and colleagues,” she said.
PressTV-UN rights boss calls on Saudi to release women activists The EU members also called on Saudi authorities to establish the truth about the brutal murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom’s diplomatic mission in Istanbul last October and ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous act would be held to account.
US intelligence agencies reportedly believe Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder – an assertion that Saudi officials fiercely deny.
PressTV-‘Saudi crown prince liable for Khashoggi murder’It was the second joint statement at the UN forum that censured the kingdom in six months, following the first rebuke of Riyadh at the forum in March.
