Imprisoned for Opposing Normalization with the Israeli Occupation: The Case of Saudi Activist Rakan Al-Asiri
Saudi authorities continue to arbitrarily detain Rakan Al-Asiri, a Saudi citizen and software engineering graduate from King Saud University, nearly six years after his arrest for peacefully expressing opposition to normalization with the Israeli occupation, supporting women’s rights, and calling for non-violent social reform.
Al-Asiri was arrested in April 2020 after publishing a series of videos and social media posts in which he articulated political and social views in a calm and non-incendiary manner. Since his arrest, he has been held without formal charges, without a fair trial, and without any transparent legal process, in clear violation of both domestic legal guarantees and international human rights standards.
Prior to his detention, Al-Asiri used his online platforms to discuss social issues inside Saudi Arabia, including political accountability, women’s rights, and opposition to normalization with Israel. His content did not include incitement, hate speech, or calls for violence. Nevertheless, Saudi authorities responded by subjecting him to enforced disappearance, prolonged arbitrary detention, and degrading conditions of confinement.
Throughout his detention, Al-Asiri has reportedly faced harsh treatment and systematic restrictions, including intimidation during family visits and ongoing pressure on his relatives. Rather than respecting his legal rights, the authorities have used his case as part of a broader strategy of repression against young voices expressing independent political or moral positions.
In June 2022, more than two years after his arrest, Al-Asiri was forcibly made to appear on Saudi state television via Al-Ekhbariya channel, where he was presented as part of a segment promoting alleged “improvements” inside Al-Ha’ir Prison, where he remains detained. This appearance was widely viewed as coerced and served as a propaganda effort aimed at whitewashing the reality of Saudi detention facilities.
The attempt to promote Al-Ha’ir Prison is particularly troubling given its documented record of abuse. The same facility is where prominent Saudi human rights defender Abdullah Al-Hamid died as a result of deliberate medical neglect. Forcing a detainee to participate in state propaganda while being held arbitrarily constitutes an additional violation of human dignity and freedom of expression.
The continued detention of Rakan Al-Asiri without trial constitutes a clear breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, particularly articles related to arbitrary detention, due process, and freedom of expression. His case exemplifies the criminalization of peaceful political opinion, especially opposition to normalization and independent civic discourse.
Together for Justice calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Rakan Al-Asiri, an end to the use of detainees in state propaganda, and an independent investigation into the violations he has endured. Genuine reform cannot exist while young citizens are imprisoned for expressing peaceful views, and prisons are used to silence dissent rather than uphold the rule of law.
