For tweeting criticism of Turki Al-Sheikh, Egyptian employee received a 19-year prison sentence!
The Saudi judiciary still issues politicised, retaliatory rulings against anyone who criticises an official in the ruling regime even over a football-related posts on social media.
Well-confirmed sources stated that Ahmed Mohamed Omar, an Egyptian national, was sentenced to 19 years in prison by a Saudi court for a tweet he posted years ago, criticising Turki Al-Sheikh, the head of the Saudi Entertainment Authority and a close advisor to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
The incident dates back to 2019 when Ahmed Mohamed Omar tweeted about his frustration with Turki Al-Sheikh’s positions on the Egyptian Al-Ahly Club. Little did he know that this tweet would lead to his arrest in 2021, after arriving in Saudi Arabia to work as a “engraver.”
After arriving in Saudi Arabia in 2021, Ahmed Omar did not break any laws while he was there. However, after nine months, the Saudi police detained him and took him to an undisclosed location without telling his roommates about his charge. His family, on the other hand, was notified by his colleagues and made vain attempts to locate any information regarding their son.
For a year and a half, there was no news about his detention condition or charge until the security services allowed him to make a five-minute phone call home from Qassim Prison.
Ahmed’s family was unable to hire an attorney to represent him, and he was not allowed to defend himself until the unexpected ruling earlier this year. The ruling was blatantly unjust and unfair, and it disregarded all requirements for a fair trial.
It is noteworthy that many victims of Turki Al-Sheikh, or those who opposed his policies and criticized him on social media, are imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. One such victim is the Saudi tweeter Omar Napoli, who was detained four years ago and subjected to forced disappearance for an extended period of time after publishing critical tweets.
This occurred at a time when Turki Al-Sheikh possesses enormous authority due to his roles at the Entertainment Authority and the Royal Court. This demonstrates the depth of the widespread corruption among Saudi government officials who harass the populace by abusing their power and positions and enjoying total impunity and lack of accountability.
