Mikhlif Alshammari
Mikhlif al-Shammari | |
|---|---|
 Al-Shammari in 2012 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | Mikhlif ibn Diham al-Shammari 21 February 1955 |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Ahl al-Hadith |
| Creed | Atharism |
| Movement | Salafism |
Mikhlif ibn Diham al-Shammari (Arabic: مخلف بن دهام الشمري, romanized: Mikhlif ibn Dihām al-Shammarī; 21 February 1955 – 2016) was a Saudi Islamic scholar. He was sanctioned on several occasions for his human rights efforts.[1][2] Al-Shammari was an advocate of Shia–Sunni unity.
Early life
[edit]He was born in Baq'a, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia. He studied at Armstrong College (California) and Berkeley, California, United States, from where he held a BBA in Business Administration.
Work experience
[edit]Mikhlif al-Shammari was one of the leaders of the Shammar tribe. He was a writer and critic for several Saudi newspapers. After being banned from writing, he continued to publish his articles on the internet.
He was well known as a human rights defender and advocate of reforming democracy. Also, he was one of the promoters to unite the Sunni with the Shiites under one umbrella. He was trusted by international organizations like by Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Council, Front Line Defenders, Amnesty International and ALKarama HR Org. He was self-employed as a director of his own contracting company "DAHAMCO".
In 2007, al-Shammari company went bankrupt as a result of his arrest without charge by the General Investigation in Dammam. After he was released from that arbitrary detention and tasted the injustice, he changed his career totally. He became a human rights defender and worked a full-time human right defender to help oppressed people, men and women, Saudis and non-Saudis at all levels.
Due to his activities and his writings, al-Shammari was detained three times in four years. The last arrest took place on 15 June 2010, accused of "annoying others."
In 2013, he was sentenced to five years in prison for exposing human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia.
In 2015, he was sentenced to two years in prison and 200 lashes for "associating with Shia Muslims".[3]
Activities
[edit]- Founder of Environment's Friends organization in the Eastern Province.
- Founder and Chairman of Shammar Tribe Board in the Eastern Province.
- Was invited as an independents activist by the High Commissioner to the United Nations to report on the status of women in Saudi Arabia.
- Attended several human rights training workshops.
- Arranged and participated in the first Friday prayer between Shiites and Sunnis in Qatif area.
- Worked to resolve many family and tribal disputes including the revenge disputes.
Memberships
[edit]- Member and collaborator with the Saudi Human Rights Commission (until his latest arrest)
- An active member of the National Family Safety Program, Riyadh
- Member of WHO's WHO OF professional international
- Member of the Saudi Management Association
- Member of the Saudi Cancer Society
Awards
[edit]- Shield trophy from the Forum Dialogue between different Cultures
- Shield trophy of trust from "Shammar" Tribe
References
[edit]- ^ "Human rights activist Mikhlif Al-Shammari sentenced to 2 years in prison". www.alqst.org. 2015-05-01. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ Worth, Robert F. (2014-03-14). "Saudi's Lonely, Costly Bid for Sunni-Shiite Equality". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ "Human rights activist Mikhlif Al-Shammari sentenced to 2 years in prison". alqst.org. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
Sources
[edit]- "Human Rights Watch". Saudi Arabia: Charges Against Rights Activist Frivolous.
- "Frontline defenders." Saudi Arabia: Torture of imprisoned human rights defender Mukhlif AlShammari. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31.
- "Frontline defenders." Saudi Arabia-Update:Release of human rights defender Sheikh Mukhlif AlShammari. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21.
- "Human Rights Watch". Saudi Arabia: Release Rights Activist.
- "Amnesty.org". the Amnesty International in its report December 2011 in 49 & 50 page they indicated about him.
- "Frontline Defenders". Human rights defender Mikhlif Al-Shommari remains in arbitrary detention and faces charges of “annoying others”. Archived from the original on 2012-03-04.
- "Gulf Center for Human Rights". Saudi Arabia: A Letter Sent from Dammam Central Prison by Courageous Defender of HR Mikhlif Alshammari to GCHR.
- "Gulf Center for Human Rights". Action Alert: Saudi Arabia – Prominent activist Sheikh Mukhlif al-Shammari detained without trial by Saudi regime.
- "The National". Saudi human rights activist in prison for 'annoying others'.