During a side event at the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Ben Saul, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, issued a stark warning about the growing misuse of counter-terrorism frameworks across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Speaking virtually, Saul criticized regional organizations—including the Arab League, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)—for opaque procedures, exclusion of civil society organizations (CSOs), and restrictive accreditation policies. “Regional organizations should be a progressive force… not magnifying domestic repression,” Saul stated.
He outlined six alarming trends of counter-terrorism abuse:
- Regional bodies enabling violations through vague anti-terror laws and weak legal safeguards.
- States criminalizing dissent by exploiting broad terrorism definitions.
- Arbitrary terrorist designations used to impose travel bans and asset freezes, often without due process.
- Absence of fair trials and independent judiciaries, including torture, forced confessions, and political interference.
- Widespread use of spyware and digital surveillance against activists.
- Systematic international law violations in the Israel-Palestine conflict, including alleged war crimes.
In particular, Saul drew attention to Turkey’s systematic persecution of members and alleged sympathizers of the Gülen movement. Thousands have faced arbitrary detention, mass dismissals, confiscation of assets, and exile—often without credible evidence or judicial safeguards. Such repression extends beyond borders, through absentia trials and transnational intimidation of exiled critics. The targeting of the Gülen movement exemplifies a broader regional pattern, seen also in the infamous UAE 87 and 94 trials, and “case recycling” in Egypt that violates protections against double jeopardy.
Saul called on regional bodies to ensure transparent and inclusive civil society engagement, remove barriers to participation, and uphold accountability. He concluded by urging the international community to resist efforts that undermine international law under the guise of counter-terrorism.
“There can never be a sustainable peace without justice according to international law,” Saul affirmed.
The event was hosted by MENA Rights Group, an NGO dedicated to protecting human rights across the region.
