Global unions call for justice for Saudi women‘s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul

Global Unions have expressed alarm and strong indignation at Saudi Arabia’s State Prosecutor’s decision to seek the maximum jail sentence for women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul. She has been imprisoned on alledged charges of terrorism for advocating for women’s rights.

Credit: Reuters

If convicted, Hathloul, one of Saudi Arabia’s most outspoken human rights activists, faces up to 20 years in prison.

Ms. Loujain Al-Hathloul has been engaged in promoting women’s rights in her country for several years, including in the movements to allow women to drive and to claim freedom of movement.

On 15 May 2018, Ms. Al-Hathloul was arrested and has since been detained on national security grounds, reportedly in circumstances that amount to arbitrary arrest and detention.

Defending human rights can never be considered a threat to national security. Women’s rights activism is not terrorism.

Loujain al-Hathloul must be immediately and unconditionally released, and all charges against her dropped.

The global trade union movement stands in solidarity with all defending human rights and fundamental freedoms and call for immediate justice for Loujain al-Hathloul.

The signatories include:

- International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

- IndustriALL

- UNI Global Union

- Public Services International (PSI)

- International Domestic Workers Freedom (IDWF)

- International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

- International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)

- The food, farm, hotels and more global union (IUF)

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

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