human rights defender
Dr. Lina Al-Sharif
Actions and Campaigns
Dr. Lina Al-Sharif
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
Urgent support needed
Dr. Al-Sharif has been denied medical care.
HRD's year of birth
1988
HRD's Gender
Woman
Type of HRD
- Journalist/Blogger
HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
- Women's rights
Current Status
Released
HRD's bio and work
Dr. Lina Al-Sharif is a medical doctor based in Riyadh. In late May 2021, officials from the Saudi Presidency of State Security raided Al-Sharif’s family house in Riyadh, and arrested Al-Sharif. Prior to her arrest, she was active on social media, discussing Saudi politics and advocating for human rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including women’s rights, freedom of belief and freedom of expression, in addition to calling for the release of all prisoners of opinion.
Detained since
May 31, 2021
Date of release
May 19, 2025
Charge(s)
- Terrorism
Latitude: 24.44914
Longitude: 46.81299
Geolocation of detention
Country or area of detention
Region of detention
- Asia: Western Asia
Location of detention - City/Town
Riyadh
Location of detention - Facility
Al-Ha’ir Prison
Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
Al-Sharif was kept in incommunicado detention, with her whereabouts unknown, for at least two months after her arrest, until July 26, 2021. She has been held in prolonged pre-trial detention since her arrest. Moreover, her right to due process has not been respected and she is not provided with legal representation. She has also been denied adequate medical care. Independent observers have not been able to visit her to verify the conditions of her detention.
Recent case update / evolution
On 9 July 2021, MENA Rights Group sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (UN WGEID), which sent a communication to the Saudi authorities, prompting them to reveal her location. On 21 September 2021, the Saudi authorities responded to the UN WGEID’s request for clarification. In response to Dr. Al-Sharif practising her right to free speech, the Saudi authorities claimed that she contravened Saudi laws, and was detained in accordance with Articles 2 and 19 of the Law on Combatting Terrorism Crimes and its Financing. However, the government provided no further information to the UN WGEID on any charges being brought against her, and her case remains under investigation.
She was released on 19 May 2025.
Attachments
Documented by
- Country(ies) of nationality
- HRD's year of birth
- 1988
- HRD's Gender
- Woman
- Type of HRD
- Journalist/Blogger
- HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
- Women's rights
- HRD's Picture
- HRD's bio and work
Dr. Lina Al-Sharif is a medical doctor based in Riyadh. In late May 2021, officials from the Saudi Presidency of State Security raided Al-Sharif’s family house in Riyadh, and arrested Al-Sharif. Prior to her arrest, she was active on social media, discussing Saudi politics and advocating for human rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including women’s rights, freedom of belief and freedom of expression, in addition to calling for the release of all prisoners of opinion.
- Country or area of detention
- Region of detention
- Asia: Western Asia
- Location of detention - City/Town
- Riyadh
- Location of detention - Facility
- Al-Ha’ir Prison
- Geolocation of detention
Latitude: 24.44914
Longitude: 46.81299
- Geolocation of detention
- Detained since
- May 31, 2021
- Current Status
- Released
- Date of release
- May 19, 2025
- Charge(s)
- Terrorism
- Recent case update / evolution
On 9 July 2021, MENA Rights Group sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (UN WGEID), which sent a communication to the Saudi authorities, prompting them to reveal her location. On 21 September 2021, the Saudi authorities responded to the UN WGEID’s request for clarification. In response to Dr. Al-Sharif practising her right to free speech, the Saudi authorities claimed that she contravened Saudi laws, and was detained in accordance with Articles 2 and 19 of the Law on Combatting Terrorism Crimes and its Financing. However, the government provided no further information to the UN WGEID on any charges being brought against her, and her case remains under investigation.
She was released on 19 May 2025.
- Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
Al-Sharif was kept in incommunicado detention, with her whereabouts unknown, for at least two months after her arrest, until July 26, 2021. She has been held in prolonged pre-trial detention since her arrest. Moreover, her right to due process has not been respected and she is not provided with legal representation. She has also been denied adequate medical care. Independent observers have not been able to visit her to verify the conditions of her detention.
- Protection actions and campaigns
- Urgent support needed
Dr. Al-Sharif has been denied medical care.
- Documented by
- Consent status
- Consent to register, store and publish the information
Supporting files
sorted by
Date added
5 relationships, 4 entities