Hello my name is Yusef Al-Awaji. I'm contacting you in regards to my father Ali Al-Awaji. He was detained by the Saudi secret services on Friday October 18th, 2013 at Riyadh international airport. They said he was wanted for questioning by the ministry of interior. He has done nothing wrong nor will they give him or us a reason for his arrest. We have no idea where they are holding him nor the conditions he's under. They won't release any information. They (the Saudi secret services) have been known to detain people for years with no cause or evidence, only based on suspicion. They have no respect for human rights and the authorities put themselves above all and do not abide by any rules. My father was a human rights defender and believed in equality and justice all over the world, specifically working in the middle east. We believe that's why he's been detained due to his line of work and speaking up against authorities in Saudi Arabia which is prohibited. Please help my father and our family. We just want our father back.
Thank you for your time and sincerity in this matter, I hope you can help.
Yusef Al-Awaji
(001) 720-261-8952
Yusefalawaji@yahoo.com