Thirty-six countries have signed an open letter criticising Saudi Arabia's human rights record. <br />''<br />''<br />''The letter, read at a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday, is the first collective rebuke of the kingdom.<br />''<br />''<br />''It urges Saudi Arabia to release human rights activists jailed for exercising their fundamental freedoms and to disclose all information available about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. <br />''<br />''<br />''It also called for the release of women rights defenders Loujain al-Hathloul, Hatoon al-Fassi and Samar Badawi and others jailed after campaigning for human rights in the country.<br />''<br />''<br />''The collective rebuke was signed by all countries in the European Union plus Australia, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Montenegro.<br />''<br />