Abdul-Rahman al-Lahem, the well-known Saudi lawyer, was awarded earlier this year the International Human Rights Lawyer Award from the American Bar Association, but sadly he could not receive the award in person because he is not allowed to travel outside the country.
This week, al-Lahem has received another honor, winning the 2008 Human Rights Defender award from Human Rights Watch (HRW). The international organization called the Saudi government to immediately lift the ban on foreign travel for al-Lahem so that he can attend the award ceremonies in London, Paris, and Geneva this November.
“Barring al-Lahem from travel only highlights the severe and arbitrary limits to basic freedoms and fairness in the kingdom,” Christoph Wilcke, senior researcher on Saudi Arabia at HRW said.
I hope these calls will not fall on deaf ears, and I hope to see our two local human rights organizations make a statement, not just on behalf of al-Lahem, but also for all activists who has been working to promote the culture of citizens’ rights. It has been almost four years since the travel ban was imposed on the lawyer who has shown exceptional courage in his relentless effort to defend human rights in the Kingdom. Once again, it is about time.
Saudi Jeans 
May I know in brief what are the accusations against Mr. Al-Lahim that ban him from traveling outside the country ? criticizing the country’s policies or… ?!
Sad !!!
sadly he could not receive the award in person because he is not allowed to travel outside the country.
So the 9-11 hijackers and those committing terror against civilians in Iraq are permitted to leave, but not this lone, non-violent lawyer? How did that happen?
Abdul-Rahman al-Lahem can kiss my ass
It’s so sad to see how little freedom is given to a human voice.
فى خلال الثلاثين عاما الماضية تعرضت مصر الى حملة منظمة لنشر ثقافة الهزيمة – The Culture of Defeat – بين المصريين, فظهرت أمراض اجتماعية خطيرة عانى ومازال يعانى منها خمسة وتسعون بالمئة من هذا الشعب الكادح . فلقد تحولت مصر تدريجيا الى مجتمع الخمسة بالمئه وعدنا بخطى ثابته الى عصر ماقبل الثورة .. بل أسوء بكثير من مرحلة الاقطاع.
هذه دراسة لمشاكل مصرالرئيسية قد أعددتها وتتناول كل مشاكلنا العامة والمستقاة من الواقع وطبقا للمعلومات المتاحة فى الداخل والخارج وسأنشرها تباعا وهى كالتالى:
1- الانفجار السكانى .. وكيف أنها خدعة فيقولون أننا نتكاثر ولايوجد حل وأنها مشكلة مستعصية عن الحل.
2- مشكلة الدخل القومى .. وكيف يسرقونه ويدعون أن هناك عجزا ولاأمل من خروجنا من مشكلة الديون .
3- مشكلة تعمير مصر والتى يعيش سكانها على 4% من مساحتها.
4 – العدالة الاجتماعية .. وأطفال الشوارع والذين يملكون كل شىء .
5 – ضرورة الاتحاد مع السودان لتوفير الغذاء وحماية الأمن القومى المصرى.
6 – رئيس مصر القادم .. شروطه ومواصفاته حتى ترجع مصر الى عهدها السابق كدولة لها وزن اقليمى عربيا وافريقيا.
ارجو من كل من يقراء هذا ان يزور ( مقالات ثقافة الهزيمة) فى هذا الرابط:
http://www.ouregypt.us/culture/main.html
@ a. Lahem works without hiding behind a pseudonym plus he is defending the rights of weak people in the society like the prophets.