Haydée Dijkstal
@dijkstal.bsky.social
Barrister at 33 Bedford Row Chambers | Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Atlantic Council | Int’l Criminal Law & Human Rights | Views my own
Reposted by Haydée Dijkstal
We are delighted to #celebrate the 33 Bedford Row #barristers recognised in the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide 2026 rankings.
Huge congratulations to our ranked members:
Dr S Chelvan, Gul Nawaz Hussain KC, Haydée Dijkstal, Tope Adeyemi, Zahra Ahmed
www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/new...
Huge congratulations to our ranked members:
Dr S Chelvan, Gul Nawaz Hussain KC, Haydée Dijkstal, Tope Adeyemi, Zahra Ahmed
www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/new...
33 Bedford Row Members Ranked in Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide 2026
Chambers is pleased to announce the list of our barristers who have been ranked in the Chambers UK Bar 2026
www.33bedfordrow.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 6:31 PM
We are delighted to #celebrate the 33 Bedford Row #barristers recognised in the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide 2026 rankings.
Huge congratulations to our ranked members:
Dr S Chelvan, Gul Nawaz Hussain KC, Haydée Dijkstal, Tope Adeyemi, Zahra Ahmed
www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/new...
Huge congratulations to our ranked members:
Dr S Chelvan, Gul Nawaz Hussain KC, Haydée Dijkstal, Tope Adeyemi, Zahra Ahmed
www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/new...
The People’s Tribunal for #Women in #Afghanistan (on X @AfgPpt) has started in Madrid and is addressing evidence of gender based #persecution from 8-10 Oct. Follow the civil society led tribunal, with @ahrdo.bsky.social @rawadari.bsky.social HRDPlusNetwork & DROPS, here ⬇️ x.com/afgppt/statu...
People’s Tribunal for Women of Afghanistan on X: "ENG: https://t.co/9oiBG71iMb DARI https://t.co/dRuOTlqZPD PASHTO https://t.co/kWrotNnXgW https://t.co/ETw1jfOCgf" / X
ENG: https://t.co/9oiBG71iMb DARI https://t.co/dRuOTlqZPD PASHTO https://t.co/kWrotNnXgW https://t.co/ETw1jfOCgf
x.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The People’s Tribunal for #Women in #Afghanistan (on X @AfgPpt) has started in Madrid and is addressing evidence of gender based #persecution from 8-10 Oct. Follow the civil society led tribunal, with @ahrdo.bsky.social @rawadari.bsky.social HRDPlusNetwork & DROPS, here ⬇️ x.com/afgppt/statu...
Reposted by Haydée Dijkstal
The Strategic Litigation Project is honored to welcome Ambassador Beth Van Schaack, who served as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice from March 2022 to January 2025, as a Distinguished Fellow.
Read her bio below ⬇️
Read her bio below ⬇️
July 15, 2025 at 4:27 PM
The Strategic Litigation Project is honored to welcome Ambassador Beth Van Schaack, who served as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice from March 2022 to January 2025, as a Distinguished Fellow.
Read her bio below ⬇️
Read her bio below ⬇️
Reposted by Haydée Dijkstal
Families of UK prisoners abroad urge ministers to keep promises to help
Families of UK prisoners abroad urge ministers to keep promises to help
David Lammy said he hopes to appoint special envoy for British nationals detained overseas
Families and lawyers of prominent British prisoners detained abroad have called for the government to deliver on promises to help secure their release and appoint a special envoy.
Last week, David Lammy, the foreign secretary, said he hoped to appoint a special envoy for British nationals arbitrarily detained overseas by the end of the year, after vowing to do so in November 2024 and as part of a Labour manifesto pledge. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
July 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Families of UK prisoners abroad urge ministers to keep promises to help
I post mostly about work here, so it feels right to honour the extraordinary life and career of my grandmother ~ Dr Haydée Javier Kimmich ~ who we lost this week. She was a force; embodying a fierce spirit of independence, purpose and service which was impossible not to inspire.
July 12, 2025 at 7:59 AM
I post mostly about work here, so it feels right to honour the extraordinary life and career of my grandmother ~ Dr Haydée Javier Kimmich ~ who we lost this week. She was a force; embodying a fierce spirit of independence, purpose and service which was impossible not to inspire.
Very sad to see this news. Courtenay gave me my first job in ICL years ago on the Taylor trial, and made a big impression as I was starting my career - as I know he did for so many. He will be missed.
‘Simply no one better’: Prominent Black UK lawyer Courtenay Griffiths dies aged 69
‘Simply no one better’: Prominent Black UK lawyer Courtenay Griffiths dies aged 69
Griffiths, one of the first Black lawyers to achieve queen’s counsel, has been fondly remembered by colleagues
Tributes have been paid to the “legendary” defence barrister Courtenay Griffiths KC, one of the first Black lawyers to achieve the prestigious queen’s counsel status in the UK, who has died at the age of 69.
Griffiths, who was born in Jamaica, was involved in some of the most notable criminal cases of his time, including the PC Keith Blakelock and Damilola Taylor murder trials and the Brighton bombing. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
June 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Very sad to see this news. Courtenay gave me my first job in ICL years ago on the Taylor trial, and made a big impression as I was starting my career - as I know he did for so many. He will be missed.
Yesterday the APPG on Arbitrary Detention held a hearing on British national, Ahmed Al-Doush, whose arb detention in Saudi Arabia~now 10 yr sentence~is based on free expression/assoc. Very glad to provide info w/ @reprievehq.bsky.social & @amnestyuk.bsky.social www.hostagesappg.co.uk/post/press-b...
Press Briefing on APPG Hearing on Ahmed al-Doush
On Monday 16th June, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Arbitrary Detention and Hostage Affairs held a hearing on the case of British citizen Ahmed al-Doush, arbitrarily detained in Saudi Arabia, as...
www.hostagesappg.co.uk
June 17, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Yesterday the APPG on Arbitrary Detention held a hearing on British national, Ahmed Al-Doush, whose arb detention in Saudi Arabia~now 10 yr sentence~is based on free expression/assoc. Very glad to provide info w/ @reprievehq.bsky.social & @amnestyuk.bsky.social www.hostagesappg.co.uk/post/press-b...
Ahmed has been sentenced to 10 yrs for an alleged tweet. The exact tweet is unknown. His trial and detention involved fair trial & due process violations.
The UK Gov must demand answers and stand firmly against a British national’s imprisonment for allegedly exercising his right to free expression.
The UK Gov must demand answers and stand firmly against a British national’s imprisonment for allegedly exercising his right to free expression.
A British analyst has been sentenced to ten years in a Saudi Arabian prison for posting a tweet, The Times can reveal
British father jailed in Saudi Arabia ‘over deleted tweet’
www.thetimes.com
May 13, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Ahmed has been sentenced to 10 yrs for an alleged tweet. The exact tweet is unknown. His trial and detention involved fair trial & due process violations.
The UK Gov must demand answers and stand firmly against a British national’s imprisonment for allegedly exercising his right to free expression.
The UK Gov must demand answers and stand firmly against a British national’s imprisonment for allegedly exercising his right to free expression.
Detained for nearly 9 months, British national, Ahmed Al-Doush, being tried on charges allegedly based on a tweet. His case raises serious concerns about his right to free expression and association, and basic due process and fair trial principles under international law.
Briton faces threat of extended Saudi prison sentence for tweet
Briton faces threat of extended Saudi prison sentence for tweet
Foreign Office denied access to trial, while British lawyers still not clear what offence Ahmed al-Doush has committed
As Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prepare to meet in Riyadh on Tuesday to celebrate a new golden age in trade, a British national will appear in a Riyadh court facing the threat of an extended prison sentence for a tweet. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
May 11, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Detained for nearly 9 months, British national, Ahmed Al-Doush, being tried on charges allegedly based on a tweet. His case raises serious concerns about his right to free expression and association, and basic due process and fair trial principles under international law.
Reposted by Haydée Dijkstal
Our client Robert Pether has been arbitrarily detained in Iraq since 2021. This is a welcomed statement by @simonharrisireland.bsky.social. #FreeRobertPether @dijkstal.bsky.social
April 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Our client Robert Pether has been arbitrarily detained in Iraq since 2021. This is a welcomed statement by @simonharrisireland.bsky.social. #FreeRobertPether @dijkstal.bsky.social
A little delegation from @33bedfordrow.bsky.social International attending this year’s International Bar Association War Crimes Committee conference in The Hague. Lovely to catch up with colleagues and friends along with @mhproulx.bsky.social and Aqsa Hussain.
#IBAWCC #33BRIntl
#IBAWCC #33BRIntl
April 6, 2025 at 3:51 PM
A little delegation from @33bedfordrow.bsky.social International attending this year’s International Bar Association War Crimes Committee conference in The Hague. Lovely to catch up with colleagues and friends along with @mhproulx.bsky.social and Aqsa Hussain.
#IBAWCC #33BRIntl
#IBAWCC #33BRIntl
Delighted to have Marie-Hélène and Michael as colleagues at Chambers! They bring extensive experience practicing before intl criminal tribunals in The Hague and beyond, and impressive expertise and knowledge of intl law. Looking forward to the collaborating, supporting and learning from each other!
Chambers is delighted to announce that Marie-Hélène Proulx and Michael Herz will be joining as an #Associate and a #DoorTenant with immediate effect. They will be joining the #InternationalLaw practice group.
Read about our new joiners below:
www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/new...
Read about our new joiners below:
www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/new...
February 20, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Delighted to have Marie-Hélène and Michael as colleagues at Chambers! They bring extensive experience practicing before intl criminal tribunals in The Hague and beyond, and impressive expertise and knowledge of intl law. Looking forward to the collaborating, supporting and learning from each other!
Reposted by Haydée Dijkstal
Haydee Dijkstal @dijkstal.bsky.social acts as international counsel for Saudi teacher released from #detention in Saudi Arabia after nearly 2 years and 3 months of detention based on the exercise of #FreeExpression on social media.
www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/new...
www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/new...
Saudi teacher released after arbitrary detention for tweets: Haydee Dijkstal acted as international counsel
On 13 February 2025, Saudi teacher, Asaad Al Ghamdi, was released from detention in Saudi Arabia after nearly 2 years and 3 months of detention based on the
www.33bedfordrow.co.uk
February 14, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Haydee Dijkstal @dijkstal.bsky.social acts as international counsel for Saudi teacher released from #detention in Saudi Arabia after nearly 2 years and 3 months of detention based on the exercise of #FreeExpression on social media.
www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/new...
www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/new...
Today, my client, Asaad Al Ghamdi - a Saudi teacher sentenced to 15 yrs imprisonment for posts on social media - was released after 2+ yrs of arbitrary detention in Saudi Arabia.
I'm thrilled he is reunited with his family!
sanad.uk/2025/02/13/a...
I'm thrilled he is reunited with his family!
sanad.uk/2025/02/13/a...
After More Than Two Years of Detention, Saudi Arabia Releases Teacher Asaad Al-Ghamdi - Sanad Organization
The Saudi authorities have released Asaad bin Nasser Al-Ghamdi, the brother of London-based Saudi dissident Dr. Saeed Al-Ghamdi, after more than two years of
sanad.uk
February 13, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Today, my client, Asaad Al Ghamdi - a Saudi teacher sentenced to 15 yrs imprisonment for posts on social media - was released after 2+ yrs of arbitrary detention in Saudi Arabia.
I'm thrilled he is reunited with his family!
sanad.uk/2025/02/13/a...
I'm thrilled he is reunited with his family!
sanad.uk/2025/02/13/a...
Reposted by Haydée Dijkstal
The Association of Young International Criminal Lawyers is delighted to invite you to a conversation with
@dijkstal.bsky.social (33 Bedford Row Chamber) on her outstanding career as a barrister in ICL & IHRL:
February 12, 2025 at 16:00 CET
Click here to register: shorturl.at/QjKl9
@dijkstal.bsky.social (33 Bedford Row Chamber) on her outstanding career as a barrister in ICL & IHRL:
February 12, 2025 at 16:00 CET
Click here to register: shorturl.at/QjKl9
January 21, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The Association of Young International Criminal Lawyers is delighted to invite you to a conversation with
@dijkstal.bsky.social (33 Bedford Row Chamber) on her outstanding career as a barrister in ICL & IHRL:
February 12, 2025 at 16:00 CET
Click here to register: shorturl.at/QjKl9
@dijkstal.bsky.social (33 Bedford Row Chamber) on her outstanding career as a barrister in ICL & IHRL:
February 12, 2025 at 16:00 CET
Click here to register: shorturl.at/QjKl9
Reposted by Haydée Dijkstal
The case of a British man detained in #SaudiArabia without charge since late August 2024, causing him to miss his child's birth, has been raised before the #UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention by his legal team at 33BR - Haydee Dijkstal leading Simon Ridding.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Foreign Office refused to give us details about Briton jailed in Saudi, family say
Ahmed al-Doush has been held for more than four months without charge and has been given no reason for his arrest
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2025 at 12:02 PM
The case of a British man detained in #SaudiArabia without charge since late August 2024, causing him to miss his child's birth, has been raised before the #UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention by his legal team at 33BR - Haydee Dijkstal leading Simon Ridding.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Yesterday Lebanon sent Turkish-Egyptian poet Abdul Rahman AlQaradawi to the UAE on an extradition request for tweeting a video of joy for the Syrian people and criticism for repression elsewhere. This was despite overwhelming calls for Lebanon to respect intl law & not extradite. 🧵
January 9, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Yesterday Lebanon sent Turkish-Egyptian poet Abdul Rahman AlQaradawi to the UAE on an extradition request for tweeting a video of joy for the Syrian people and criticism for repression elsewhere. This was despite overwhelming calls for Lebanon to respect intl law & not extradite. 🧵
Reposted by Haydée Dijkstal
“Lebanon is a party to the Convention Against Torture, and with that, there’s an absolute obligation under Article III not to send anyone to a country where they might be abused.”
@dijkstal.bsky.social explains to BBC that her client faces torture if extradited: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
@dijkstal.bsky.social explains to BBC that her client faces torture if extradited: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Newsday - Blinken visits South Korea amid political unrest - BBC Sounds
Investigators have passed responsibility to arrest the impeached president to the police
www.bbc.co.uk
January 7, 2025 at 2:46 PM
“Lebanon is a party to the Convention Against Torture, and with that, there’s an absolute obligation under Article III not to send anyone to a country where they might be abused.”
@dijkstal.bsky.social explains to BBC that her client faces torture if extradited: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
@dijkstal.bsky.social explains to BBC that her client faces torture if extradited: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
No family should have to go through the painful experience of a loved one being arbitrarily detained abroad, yet British citizen Ahmed Al-Doush has been in prolonged detention in Saudi Arabia without reason or charge causing him to miss his child’s birth. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Foreign Office refused to give us details about Briton jailed in Saudi, family say
Ahmed al-Doush has been held for more than four months without charge and has been given no reason for his arrest
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2025 at 10:54 PM
No family should have to go through the painful experience of a loved one being arbitrarily detained abroad, yet British citizen Ahmed Al-Doush has been in prolonged detention in Saudi Arabia without reason or charge causing him to miss his child’s birth. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
I told Aljazeera that that Lebanon must strongly protect my client, Abdul Rahman's rights. Granting the extradition requests will leave Lebanon in grave breach of its int'l law obligations, & would undermine respect for the right to free expression & against torture www.aljazeera.com/amp/program/...
Lawyer fears Egyptian poet could be tortured if extradited from Lebanon
A lawyer for activist and poet Abdul Rahman Yusuf has told Al Jazeera that he would be at risk if extradited to Egypt.
www.aljazeera.com
January 5, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I told Aljazeera that that Lebanon must strongly protect my client, Abdul Rahman's rights. Granting the extradition requests will leave Lebanon in grave breach of its int'l law obligations, & would undermine respect for the right to free expression & against torture www.aljazeera.com/amp/program/...
Reposted by Haydée Dijkstal
Since the fall of his regime in Syria, the international community has been exploring different legal avenues to bring Assad to justice.
SLP fellows @dijkstal.bsky.social and @yousufsyedkhan.bsky.social speak about the ICC, universal jurisdiction and more ➡️ www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-ea...
SLP fellows @dijkstal.bsky.social and @yousufsyedkhan.bsky.social speak about the ICC, universal jurisdiction and more ➡️ www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-ea...
War crimes and legal routes: How Assad could be brought to justice for Syria atrocities
Experts say the various ways of punishing Assad include the ICC following the Bangladesh-Myanmar model or cases in national courts under universal jurisdiction
- Anadolu Ajansı
www.aa.com.tr
December 24, 2024 at 4:08 AM
Since the fall of his regime in Syria, the international community has been exploring different legal avenues to bring Assad to justice.
SLP fellows @dijkstal.bsky.social and @yousufsyedkhan.bsky.social speak about the ICC, universal jurisdiction and more ➡️ www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-ea...
SLP fellows @dijkstal.bsky.social and @yousufsyedkhan.bsky.social speak about the ICC, universal jurisdiction and more ➡️ www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-ea...
Thanks to Rabia Ali for covering the available jurisdictional pathway for the #ICC to consider crimes causing Syrians to flee to Jordan. I spoke about the Art 15 my co-counsel @gissounia.bsky.social and I submitted in Sept 2022 & how the ICC could provide justice today. www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-ea...
War crimes and legal routes: How Assad could be brought to justice for Syria atrocities
Experts say the various ways of punishing Assad include the ICC following the Bangladesh-Myanmar model or cases in national courts under universal jurisdiction
- Anadolu Ajansı
www.aa.com.tr
December 23, 2024 at 8:24 PM
Thanks to Rabia Ali for covering the available jurisdictional pathway for the #ICC to consider crimes causing Syrians to flee to Jordan. I spoke about the Art 15 my co-counsel @gissounia.bsky.social and I submitted in Sept 2022 & how the ICC could provide justice today. www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-ea...
Reposted by Haydée Dijkstal
Last week at #ASP23 in The Hague, the SLP co-sponsored an event ft. fellow @dijkstal.bsky.social, urging member states to refer the situation in #Syria to the ICC as requested in an Article 15 submission made by @gissounia.bsky.social and Dijkstal.
Learn more: www.theguardian.com/world/2022/f...
Learn more: www.theguardian.com/world/2022/f...
December 10, 2024 at 1:11 PM
Last week at #ASP23 in The Hague, the SLP co-sponsored an event ft. fellow @dijkstal.bsky.social, urging member states to refer the situation in #Syria to the ICC as requested in an Article 15 submission made by @gissounia.bsky.social and Dijkstal.
Learn more: www.theguardian.com/world/2022/f...
Learn more: www.theguardian.com/world/2022/f...
What a whirlwind of a week! Reflecting on all the vibrant discussions this week at the ICC ASP. Was glad to be part of the dialogue on possible avenues for justice in Afghanistan, Palestine and Syria along with AHRDO, ICJP, Atlantic Council Strategic Litigation Project and Syria Forum.
#ASP23
#ASP23
December 7, 2024 at 5:06 PM
What a whirlwind of a week! Reflecting on all the vibrant discussions this week at the ICC ASP. Was glad to be part of the dialogue on possible avenues for justice in Afghanistan, Palestine and Syria along with AHRDO, ICJP, Atlantic Council Strategic Litigation Project and Syria Forum.
#ASP23
#ASP23