Human Rights Watch today honored Abd al-Rahman al-Lahim, a Saudi human rights lawyer, with the 2008 Human Rights Defenders Award in London.

Al-Lahim is prevented from traveling abroad by the Saudi authorities, and was unable to receive the award in person. He prepared a speech representing his personal views that was read to assembled guests on his behalf (http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/11/11/saudia20182.htm).

“Al-Lahim fights for the rights of his fellow citizens against arbitrary and unjust rulings,” said Christoph Wilcke, senior researcher on Saudi Arabia at Human Rights Watch. “He is at the forefront of the struggle to put into effect the kind of judicial reforms that King Abdullah has announced.”

Read the Speech in English
Read the speech in Arabic

Link to HRW