Saudi Authorities Delay the Release of Jordanian Journalist Abdulrahman Farhana Despite Official Approval
Together for Justice expresses serious concern over the continued detention of Jordanian journalist of Palestinian origin Abdulrahman Farhana, despite the issuance of an official decision approving his release months ago.
According to confirmed information, Saudi authorities have repeatedly delayed Farhana’s release despite completing all required procedures, including having him sign release documents and renewing his passport in preparation for his deportation from the Kingdom. This prolonged and unjustified delay has coincided with a significant deterioration in his health, reportedly caused by sustained psychological pressure and deliberate medical neglect during his continued imprisonment.
Farhana, 68, has been held in Saudi detention since February 2019, following a sweeping arrest campaign targeting dozens of Palestinians and Jordanians who had lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for decades. Those arrested were initially subjected to enforced disappearance for several months before being brought before collective trials that failed to meet even the most basic standards of fairness and due process. Detainees were denied access to legal counsel and prevented from mounting an effective defense.
A veteran journalist with a long professional career and a respected reputation, Farhana was sentenced to 19 years in prison despite the absence of credible material evidence. His sentence was later reduced to nine years. More than six and a half years after his arrest, he remains in detention under harsh and degrading conditions, even though the authorities themselves have formally approved his release.
Since his arrest, Farhana has endured prolonged periods of isolation and detention conditions that fall well below international standards. As an elderly detainee with existing health conditions, he requires consistent and specialised medical care. Instead, reports indicate that he has been deliberately denied adequate treatment, leading to a noticeable decline in his physical condition. He has also been denied regular contact with his family, further compounding his suffering.
Farhana’s continued detention cannot be separated from the broader political context in which Saudi authorities have criminalised peaceful support for the Palestinian cause. The 2019 arrests were widely viewed as part of a policy aimed at silencing voices critical of Israeli occupation or supportive of Palestinian rights. In this context, the prosecution of Farhana and others has been seen as aligned with Saudi Arabia’s growing normalisation trajectory, in which expressions of solidarity with Palestine have increasingly been treated as security offences.
The ongoing failure to release Farhana, despite an official decision authorising his release, constitutes arbitrary detention under international law. It also represents a clear violation of Saudi Arabia’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture, particularly given his age, deteriorating health, and the prolonged uncertainty surrounding his legal status.
Together for Justice therefore calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Abdulrahman Farhana and for his safe departure from Saudi Arabia without further delay. The organisation also urges Saudi authorities to provide him with urgent and comprehensive medical care, to lift restrictions on family contact, and to end the use of politically motivated prosecutions against Palestinian and Jordanian detainees.
The continued detention of Abdulrahman Farhana, after more than six years of imprisonment and despite formal approval for his release, stands as a stark symbol of injustice. The international community must act urgently to ensure his freedom before further irreparable harm is done to his health and life.
