Six Years Since the Arrest of Abdullah Ibrahim Al-Sael: Ongoing Detention Despite Completing Sentence Violates International Law
This month marks the sixth anniversary of the arrest of Abdullah Ibrahim Al-Sael, who was taken by Saudi security forces in September 2019 after raiding his home in Muhail Asir. He was only 20 years old at the time and was targeted solely for posting tweets in defense of prisoners of conscience.
In July 2022, the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) sentenced him to five years in prison with an additional travel ban of equal length. Abdullah has now completed his full sentence, yet the Saudi authorities continue to hold him unlawfully, stripping the detention of any legal basis and turning it into arbitrary imprisonment.
Abuses During Detention
Throughout his imprisonment, Abdullah endured a catalogue of systematic violations, including:
- Torture and ill-treatment, both physical and psychological.
- Severe restrictions on family visits, with constant monitoring by prison authorities in Abha.
- Isolation from his family, causing significant hardship and emotional suffering.
- Poor detention conditions falling short of international standards.
Breach of International Law
The continued detention of Abdullah after the completion of his sentence constitutes arbitrary detention, as defined by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and violates multiple international obligations, including:
- Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which prohibits arbitrary detention and guarantees the right to liberty and security of person.
- Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
- The Nelson Mandela Rules on the treatment of prisoners, which ensure dignity, family contact, and protection from abuse.
Together for Justice stresses that Abdullah Al-Sael’s case exemplifies the Saudi authorities’ use of the SCC as a tool of repression against peaceful activists and independent voices.
We call for:
- The immediate and unconditional release of Abdullah Ibrahim Al-Sael.
- An end to the policy of arbitrary detention and the release of all prisoners of conscience in the Kingdom.
- An independent international investigation into the violations he endured in prison and accountability for those responsible.
- Saudi Arabia’s adherence to its international commitments, particularly the ICCPR, to prevent further abuses.
