Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan Missing Since 2021 — Four Years Without Contact or Information
Amid ongoing regional tensions and instability, the case of Saudi detainee Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan remains a stark reminder of the unresolved fate of many prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia. Despite the passage of years, his case continues to raise serious concerns about enforced disappearance and the systematic denial of basic legal rights.
Al-Sadhan was arrested on 12 March 2018 from his workplace at the Saudi Red Crescent Authority in Riyadh. For an entire month, Saudi authorities denied holding him, before later acknowledging his detention without providing any information regarding the reasons for his arrest or his place of detention.
He was held for nearly three years without charge or trial, in clear violation of both Saudi domestic law and international legal standards. In April 2021, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by a 20-year travel ban, in proceedings widely criticized for lacking transparency and due process. The sentence was upheld on appeal in October 2021.
However, the most alarming development came after the confirmation of the sentence. Since his last brief contact with his family in 2021, Al-Sadhan has completely disappeared from communication, with no verified information about his whereabouts, legal status, or health condition. His case now falls under ongoing enforced disappearance, as authorities continue to refuse to respond to repeated inquiries from his family.
Throughout his detention, Al-Sadhan was severely restricted in communicating with the outside world. He was allowed only two short phone calls over several years—one lasting less than a minute after nearly two years of detention, and another after the sentencing. Since then, all contact has been قطع entirely.
According to credible accounts provided by his family, Al-Sadhan was subjected to serious physical abuse, including the breaking of his hand and fingers, reportedly accompanied by mocking remarks from interrogators. He was also held in prolonged solitary confinement, which raises further concerns about his physical and psychological well-being.
His arrest is believed to be linked to a satirical anonymous Twitter account that criticized government policies. Reports have indicated that internal data from the platform was accessed and shared with Saudi authorities, leading to the identification and arrest of Al-Sadhan. His sister later filed a lawsuit in the United States alleging that the disclosure of his identity placed him at direct risk.
The family of Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan has repeatedly appealed for information about his fate, yet no official response has been provided. Their calls for basic transparency—confirmation of his location, access to communication, and assurance of his safety—remain unanswered.
The case of Al-Sadhan reflects a broader pattern of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and denial of due process affecting prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia. These practices violate fundamental principles of international human rights law, including the prohibition of enforced disappearance and the right to a fair trial.
Together for Justice calls for the immediate disclosure of Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan’s whereabouts, guarantees for his safety, and his unconditional release. The organization also urges international bodies, including the United Nations, to take concrete steps to address such violations and ensure accountability.
As the region faces complex political and security challenges, unresolved human rights cases like that of Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan remain a critical issue that cannot be overlooked.
