From the Gulf Center for Human Rights

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) congratulates its Advisory Board member Dr. Hala Al-Dosari, a Saudi academic and researcher, on being selected as the first “Washington Post” Jamal Khashoggi Fellow, named after the Saudi journalist who was murdered on 02 October. The newspaper explains that the fellowship provides “an independent platform for journalists and writers to offer their perspectives from parts of the world where freedom of expression is threatened or suppressed.” Dr. Al-Dosari’s columns will be published on the “Washington Post” website in English and Arabic.

“The fellowship is one innovative approach to honour the legacy of Jamal Khashoggi and the significance of unconstrained journalism as a valuable check against abuse of power. It is an honour for me to extend and support such a legacy and values,” said Dr. Al-Dosari, who is currently a resident scholar at the Center for Global Justice and Human Rights in New York University and a Radcliffe fellow at Harvard University. She researches the intersection of gender, women’s health and policies in Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf States. She is an award winner and board member for a number of human rights organisations.

“The selection of Dr. Hala Al-Dosari as the first Jamal Khashoggi Fellow recognises her outstanding and articulate advocacy for the human rights of the citizens of Saudi Arabia,” said Joe Stork, Chair of GCHR’s Advisory Board. This honour highlights her tireless efforts on behalf of Saudi women activists who have been jailed, and in many cases tortured, solely for peacefully protesting that country’s repressive patriarchal laws and policies.”

“Dr. Al-Dosari is well-known for her solid academic work and also for her fruitful activism in Saudi Arabia. Her work has saved the lives of many women,” commented GCHR Executive Director Khalid Ibrahim.

Dr. Al-Dosari will be speaking at events at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women including an event about imprisoned Saudi women human rights defenders. The event is co-organised by GCHR, CIVICUS, the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) and Women’s March Global. It takes place at 1:30-3:30 on 12 March at the UN Correspondents Association Room, 3rd Floor, UN Secretariat (UN passes required.)