Name: Hassan Farhan Al-Maliki
Field of Activism: Islamic scholar and religious thinker
Date of Arrest: September 11, 2017
Sentence: No final ruling yet; the prosecution has demanded the death penalty
Current Place of Detention: Al-Ha’ir Prison, Riyadh
Charges Against Him:
- Expressing religious views and criticizing certain Islamic figures
- Criticizing Saudi religious curricula and the Supreme Council of Scholars
- Accusing Gulf governments of supporting extremist groups
- Praising political opponents such as Hassan Nasrallah
- Alleged sympathy with the Houthis in Yemen
- Publishing books and studies abroad without government approval
- Violating cybercrime laws through social media posts
- Alleged failure to uphold “good citizenship,” according to authorities
Trial Timeline:
- September 11, 2017: Arrested without a warrant during a crackdown on academics, journalists, and activists
- September 2018: Third trial session since receiving his list of charges
- October 16, 2019: The prosecution demanded the death penalty, but the session was postponed
- December 16, 2019: The trial was delayed again until February 2020, denying him the right to defend himself
- March 8, 2020: Attended his first trial session in over a year, but the next session was later postponed
- October 2022: His trial was halted without explanation
Violations:
- Arbitrary Arrest: Detained without a court order and without official charges
- Denial of Fair Trial:
- Denied the right to legal representation
- Continuous postponement of trial sessions to prolong his suffering
- Tried before the Specialized Criminal Court, notorious for its harsh rulings
- No International Oversight:
- No human rights organizations or independent observers were allowed to attend his trial
- Psychological Torture and Ongoing Suffering:
- Held indefinitely without a final verdict
- Facing the death penalty as a tool of political repression
Who is Hassan Farhan Al-Maliki?
Hassan Farhan Al-Maliki is a Saudi Islamic scholar and religious thinker known for his critical views on Wahhabi ideology and sectarian extremism. He has advocated for religious reform and denounced the culture of takfir (excommunication), which has led to his persecution by Saudi authorities. Arrested in 2017, he faces trumped-up charges solely for his intellectual beliefs.
The Saudi authorities have not only arbitrarily detained him but are now seeking to execute him in a trial that lacks any semblance of justice. His case is yet another example of the government’s efforts to silence independent thinkers and intimidate those who call for reform.
Fake Reforms and Full Prisons!
While the Saudi regime continues to market itself as a beacon of reform and openness, the reality is far darker. How can the world believe these claims while Hassan Farhan Al-Maliki remains behind bars simply for his ideas?
Saudi Arabia distracts the world with grand events and global spectacles while running a modern-day inquisition against thinkers and human rights activists. FIFA awarded Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup, claiming it respects human rights—but is this what human rights look like? Free Hassan Farhan Al-Maliki and all prisoners of conscience now!