Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hazmi Missing from Public View — Academic Sentenced to 23 Years Over Views and Family Ties
For a prolonged period, there has been no information about the whereabouts or condition of Saudi academic Dr. Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hazmi, raising serious concerns about his situation and placing his case within the pattern of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention in Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Al-Hazmi, a professor of Arabic language and literature at King Khalid University, was arrested in July 2021 following a violent raid on his home in Abha. According to available information, a large security force stormed his residence, searched it in an aggressive manner, and terrified his family before taking him to an undisclosed location.
Following his arrest, Al-Hazmi was subjected to a period of incommunicado detention, during which he was denied access to his family and legal counsel, and was not informed of the reasons for his arrest. This lack of transparency constitutes a serious violation of basic legal safeguards.
The charges brought against him do not relate to any recognizable criminal conduct. Instead, they stem from peaceful activities, including attending a licensed intellectual seminar in 2013 titled “Freedom Between Slogan and Reality”, as well as expressing opinions on social media, including calls for the release of prisoners of conscience.
His case is also linked to his family relationship with Dr. Mousa Al-Qarni, which raises further concerns about the extension of punitive measures to individuals based on association rather than personal conduct.
Despite presenting multiple defenses before the court—including denying ownership of the social media accounts attributed to him and clarifying that certain allegations referred to matters that had already been legally closed—these arguments were disregarded. He was ultimately sentenced to 23 years in prison, followed by 23 years of travel ban, based on broad and unsubstantiated charges.
Additionally, his case was prosecuted under counterterrorism legislation, despite the absence of any evidence that his actions involved violence or incitement. This raises serious concerns about the use of such laws to criminalize peaceful expression.
The recent lack of information about Al-Hazmi’s condition has intensified fears regarding his health and well-being, particularly given the absence of any official updates. His case now reflects not only prolonged detention but also continued uncertainty about his fate.
The case of Dr. Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hazmi is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader pattern affecting academics and intellectuals in Saudi Arabia, where peaceful expression and independent thought can lead to arrest and severe sentencing.
Together for Justice calls for the immediate disclosure of his whereabouts, guarantees for his safety, access to legal representation, and his unconditional release. Together for Justice also urges the international community to take meaningful steps to address such violations and ensure accountability.
