Ahmad Al-Doush: Seven Months in Saudi Detention Without Due Process
Together for Justice expresses its deep concern over the continued detention of British citizen Ahmad Al-Doush in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 31 August 2024, under vague circumstances and in violation of his fundamental rights. He has been held without formal charges and denied access to a fair trial or even the minimum standards of due legal process.
Al-Doush, a 41-year-old business analyst employed by Bank of America, was arrested while visiting his family in Saudi Arabia. Since then, he has been held in solitary confinement, completely isolated from the outside world. He has not been allowed to contact a lawyer or speak with his family—not even on the day his fourth child was born. He was denied the right to speak with his wife or check on the wellbeing of his newborn, in what can only be described as an extreme act of cruelty and inhumanity.
Despite the passage of seven months since his arrest, Saudi authorities have failed to provide any clear legal justification for his continued detention. The only consular visit permitted by Saudi officials took place in November 2024, underscoring the extreme level of isolation and abuse he has faced.
According to available information, interrogations focused on a few personal and limited social media posts, which his legal counsel, British human rights lawyer Tayab Ali, confirmed had no relation whatsoever to Saudi Arabia. It has also been suggested that his arrest may be linked to a personal friendship with the son of Saudi opposition figure Saad Al-Faqih, despite Ahmad having no direct connection to the father. Such circumstances indicate that the arrest is based on suspicion and assumption rather than evidence or legal grounds.
On 16 December 2024, Al-Doush’s lawyer submitted a formal complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, affirming that the detention constitutes a clear breach of international law, violating his rights to freedom of expression and communication, and lacking any legal or judicial foundation.
Speaking on the case, Deighsthal stated:
“Ahmad Al-Doush’s treatment is a flagrant violation of his basic rights, particularly his right to due process. His detention is clearly arbitrary under international law.”
Together for Justice also expresses serious concern over the conduct of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, which refused to provide Al-Doush’s family with any information, citing data protection laws. This approach is wholly inappropriate in a humanitarian case of this nature, and has only deepened the family’s anxiety and confusion over his fate.
The continued detention of Ahmad Al-Doush under these conditions represents a grave violation of international law and a blatant assault on human rights. It reflects a dangerous trend by Saudi authorities of targeting individuals based on personal opinions or presumed social connections, even when there is no direct link to Saudi affairs.
In light of these deeply concerning circumstances, Together for Justice urges the following actions:
- The immediate and unconditional release of British citizen Ahmad Al-Doush, given the complete absence of any legitimate legal or judicial grounds for his continued detention.
- The full restoration of his fundamental rights, including unrestricted communication with his legal counsel and family, as well as access to appropriate medical and psychological care.
- A firm and proactive response from the UK government, ensuring the protection of its citizen through diplomatic pressure on Saudi authorities to uphold his basic human rights and guarantee his wellbeing.
- The initiation of an independent, impartial, and transparent international investigation into the circumstances of his arrest and detention, with a view to securing justice and holding those responsible fully accountable.
The ongoing imprisonment of Ahmad Al-Doush—in isolation, without charge or trial—amounts to an affront to justice and human dignity. It reveals a disturbing reality in which Saudi authorities continue to wield arbitrary detention as a tool to silence individuals and punish them for private opinions or unrelated personal relationships.
Together for Justice urges all international human rights bodies and diplomatic missions to break their silence, take a firm stand against this flagrant violation, and work urgently to secure the immediate release of Ahmad Al-Doush and ensure those responsible are held to account.
