Abd al-Rahman al-Lahim’s commitment to justice is manifest as he fights on behalf of those in Saudi Arabia who have been persecuted arbitrarily under dubious interpretations of Sharia (Islamic law). His constant quest for justice and thorough knowledge of Islamic teachings are valuable catalysts for change within oppressive Saudi Arabian laws.

As the leading human rights lawyer in Saudi Arabia, al-Lahim defends the rights of women, educators, and human rights activists who have been unjustly convicted under the Saudi religious establishment’s narrow interpretations of Islamic law. He has been arrested several times, imprisoned and banned from traveling outside the kingdom for his unfaltering defense of the rights of Saudi activists, but he continues to engage fearlessly in the fight for justice.

Al-Lahim is a classically trained Sharia scholar. It is his understanding of Islamic religious teachings that makes him such a formidable force for human rights reform. Al-Lahim provides free legal services to those in desperate need and is writing a comprehensive guide to human rights in Saudi Arabia. Where the Saudi justice system failed him and his clients, Human Rights Watch has helped raise al-Lahim’s cases with Saudi decision-makers, and with success: King Abdullah has pardoned six human rights victims defended by al-Lahim. Human Rights Watch honors al-Lahim for protecting the human rights of people in Saudi Arabia and for his dedication to progressive judicial reform.