As Trump Visits Riyadh, the Saudi Regime Sentences British Citizen Ahmed Al-Doush to 10 Years Over a Deleted Tweet
Together for Justice strongly condemns the Saudi regime’s recent decision to sentence British national Ahmed Al-Doush to ten years in prison in one of the most absurd and flagrantly unjust trials in recent memory — all stemming from a deleted tweet posted years ago.
This ruling comes in parallel with the official visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to the Kingdom, in what appears to be a deliberate message from Riyadh to the international community: “We do as we please — and no one dares hold us accountable.” The ruling, preceded by eight months of solitary detention without charge or fair trial, reveals an utter disregard for international law and a brazen exploitation of global silence — led by the UK government’s shameful inaction.
Al-Doush’s trial took place behind closed doors without notifying his family or his British lawyer. He was denied the right to appoint independent legal counsel. Saudi authorities hid behind “anti-terrorism” laws to justify punishing peaceful expression, even though the actual charges remain undisclosed. What occurred was not a judicial ruling — it was a bureaucratic execution of a man’s right to speak freely.
What is equally outrageous is the complete failure of the UK government. British consular officials made only one visit during his detention. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office refused to share basic information with his wife under the pretext of “data protection” — all while accepting Saudi assurances at face value, leaving their own citizen isolated in a filthy cell, battling physical and mental hardship, as described in his wife’s harrowing testimony.
Together for Justice affirms that this ruling is part of a broader pattern of silencing dissent, not only within Saudi Arabia but also against foreign nationals who dare to speak critically. Weaponising terrorism laws to punish a social media post — especially one that no longer exists — represents a dangerous precedent that cannot be ignored.
In light of these developments, we categorically reject the sentence issued against Ahmed Al-Doush. It is the outcome of a secret, unlawful, and fundamentally unjust process. Trump’s visit to Riyadh — and the high-level deals it will bring — serve only to reinforce Saudi impunity and encourage further repression.
We therefore call for:
- An immediate and independent international investigation into the circumstances of Al-Doush’s arrest and trial;
- Full accountability for all officials involved in his detention and sentencing;
- An end to all forms of political and diplomatic normalisation with the Saudi regime until it meets basic standards of justice and human rights;
Urgent action from the UK government to uphold its moral and legal responsibility to protect its citizen — not hide behind bureaucratic excuses while justice is openly violated.
Silence in the face of this injustice is no longer neutrality — it is complicity. If this trajectory continues, the world will be facing a full-scale human rights disaster enabled by global indifference. The time to act is now — before it is too late.
