UN urges Saudi Arabia to release activists, halt lashings

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(Corrects gender in lead paragraph) * Rare criticism of oil-rich kingdom by UN rights boss * Says proceedings fail to meet fair trial standards * Seeks halt to lashing, probes of alleged ill-treatment By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA, July 10 (Reuters) - The top United Nations human rights official called on Saudi Arabia on Thursday to release activists she said had been arrested for peacefully demanding freedoms, halt the use of lashings and investigate their alleged ill-treatment. Navi Pillay, in a rare statement critical of the kingdom, currently an elected member of the U.N. Human Rights Council, voiced dismay at the conviction and "harsh sentencing" of Walid Abu Al-Khair. "Abu Al-Khair's case is a clear illustration of the continuing trend of harassment of Saudi human rights defenders, several of whom have been convicted for peacefully promoting human rights," Pillay said. "I urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release all human rights defenders held in connection with their peaceful advocacy of human rights," she said.

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