Together for Justice joins international human rights organisations in calling for the immediate release of Saudi Wikipedian Osama Khaled, whose continued detention reflects the targeting of peaceful online activity.
Osama Khaled, a 32-year-old pediatrician, blogger, and Wikipedia administrator, was arrested in July 2020 in connection with his digital activity. He was initially sentenced to five years in prison, before his sentence was dramatically increased on appeal, then reduced in subsequent rulings, and ultimately upheld in February 2026 at 14 years’ imprisonment.
This sharp fluctuation in sentencing—from five years to a significantly harsher penalty and then back down—demonstrates the arbitrary nature of judicial outcomes in his case. Available information indicates that the charges against him relate to content he published online, including contributions to Wikipedia addressing public and human rights-related issues.
Khaled was tried before the Specialized Criminal Court, a jurisdiction typically reserved for terrorism-related cases, raising concerns about the use of such frameworks to prosecute non-violent digital activity.
Legally, his arrest and prosecution for online expression constitute a violation of the right to freedom of expression. The length of the sentence, in a case not involving violence, also raises serious concerns regarding proportionality. In addition, the inconsistency in sentencing outcomes calls into question the reliability of judicial safeguards and fair trial guarantees.
Khaled remains detained in Al-Ha’ir Prison and is not expected to be released before 2034, underscoring the long-term consequences of criminalising peaceful digital engagement.
Accordingly, Together for Justice calls for his immediate and unconditional release, an end to the prosecution of individuals for peaceful online activity, and an independent review of the legal violations associated with this case.