Abdulrahman Al-Hawali Approaches His Eighth Year in Prison Amid Serious Concerns Over Torture and Deliberate Medical Neglect
Together for Justice renews its call for the immediate release of Abdulrahman Al-Hawali, who is approaching his eighth year in Saudi detention since his arrest in July 2018, amid alarming reports of severe deterioration in his health due to torture and deliberate medical neglect.
According to available information, Abdulrahman was arrested as part of a broader crackdown targeting the family of prominent scholar Sheikh Safar Al-Hawali following the publication of a book critical of Saudi authorities. The campaign led to the detention of several family members, reflecting a pattern of collective punishment directed at relatives of dissidents and independent voices.
Reports indicate that Abdulrahman has been subjected to multiple violations throughout his detention, including enforced disappearance during certain periods, physical torture, sleep deprivation, and restrictions on contact with his family and children. His detention conditions have reportedly caused significant psychological and physical harm.
Despite the absence of a clear legal basis justifying his continued imprisonment, Abdulrahman was initially sentenced to seven years in prison before the sentence was later increased to 17 years, in what has been widely viewed as a retaliatory escalation targeting the family.
Concerns have also intensified regarding his health condition, particularly in light of reports that he has been denied adequate medical care, reflecting a broader pattern in which medical neglect is used as a means of pressure and punishment inside detention facilities.
From a legal perspective, the detention of Abdulrahman Al-Hawali on the basis of his family relationship to his father, combined with allegations of torture, enforced disappearance, and denial of medical care, constitutes a direct violation of the right to liberty and security of person, the prohibition of torture, and fair trial guarantees. It also falls within the framework of collective punishment prohibited under international law.
The case of the Al-Hawali family reflects a wider pattern of abuses targeting relatives of dissidents and independent voices, where punishment is extended beyond the individual in an effort to silence criticism and intimidate families.
Accordingly, Together for Justice calls for the immediate release of Abdulrahman Al-Hawali and all detained members of his family, guarantees of urgent access to adequate medical care, and an end to all forms of torture and ill-treatment against them.
The organization also urges the international community and relevant United Nations mechanisms, particularly the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, to intervene urgently and pressure Saudi authorities to end the violations associated with this case and ensure accountability.
The fact that Abdulrahman Al-Hawali is approaching eight years in prison under these conditions, amid ongoing abuse and serious health concerns, reflects a broader policy in which detention, collective punishment, and medical neglect are used as tools to silence independent voices and punish their families.
