Omar and Sarah Al-Jabri: Ongoing Arbitrary Detention, Collective Punishment, and a Troubling Lack of Transparency
Together for Justice expresses grave concern over the continued detention of Saudi nationals Omar and Sarah Al-Jabri, a case that exemplifies a broader pattern of serious human rights violations. Despite the passage of several years since the issuance of their prison sentences, reliable information regarding their current conditions remains крайне limited and fragmented. This sustained lack of transparency raises serious concerns about their physical and psychological well-being and reinforces the fundamentally arbitrary nature of their detention.
The case of Omar and Sarah Al-Jabri cannot be understood in isolation from the political context surrounding their father, former Saudi intelligence official Saad Al-Jabri, who left the country in 2017. Since then, a series of retaliatory measures have reportedly targeted members of his family within Saudi Arabia, including arbitrary travel bans, asset freezes, and sustained pressure aimed at forcing his return. These measures escalated significantly in March 2020 with the arrest of Omar and Sarah, in what has been widely described by international organizations, including Human Rights Watch, as a clear attempt to exert pressure on their father through their detention.
Following their arrest, both Omar and Sarah were held incommunicado for several months, in violation of international standards that prohibit prolonged incommunicado detention as a form of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. During this period, they were denied access to legal counsel and prevented from communicating with their family. Authorities also failed to disclose their whereabouts or the conditions of their detention, raising concerns that their treatment may amount to enforced disappearance under international law.
Serious due process violations marred the legal proceedings against them. The charges brought—reportedly including money laundering and attempting to leave the country unlawfully—appear to have relied primarily on alleged confessions, without sufficient supporting evidence. The trial itself was conducted in a highly expedited manner, culminating in sentences of nine years’ imprisonment for Omar and six and a half years for Sarah. The appeals process further compounded these violations: the appeal hearing was reportedly held in secret, without notifying the defendants, their legal representatives, or their family members, and the verdict was upheld without affording them the opportunity to challenge it effectively.
Notably, several of the alleged acts attributed to Omar and Sarah date back to a time when they were minors, raising additional concerns regarding violations of juvenile justice standards, which require enhanced safeguards and protections. Furthermore, the criminalization of their attempt to travel abroad for educational purposes—after being subjected to an unexplained travel ban—underscores the arbitrary and disproportionate nature of the charges.
Available evidence strongly indicates that the detention of Omar and Sarah forms part of a broader pattern of collective punishment targeting the Al-Jabri family. Reports suggest that dozens of relatives have been subjected to arrest or travel restrictions. In parallel, documents and reporting by outlets such as The New York Times have revealed direct threats in which the fate of the two siblings was invoked as leverage to compel their father’s return, reinforcing the conclusion that the case is politically motivated and retaliatory in nature.
The continued detention of Omar and Sarah Al-Jabri, coupled with the lack of transparency surrounding their situation, raises serious questions about Saudi Arabia’s compliance with its international legal obligations, including under the Convention Against Torture, which prohibits torture and other forms of ill-treatment and guarantees detainees the right to communicate with the outside world and access legal representation.
Together for Justice affirms that the treatment of Omar and Sarah Al-Jabri constitutes a clear violation of multiple fundamental rights, including the right to liberty and security of person, the right to a fair trial, and the prohibition of collective punishment. The use of family members as instruments of political pressure undermines the rule of law and transforms the justice system into a tool of coercion rather than accountability.
In light of the above, Together for Justice calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Omar and Sarah Al-Jabri, an end to all forms of harassment and arbitrary measures against their family members, and the initiation of an independent international investigation into the circumstances of their detention. Accountability for those responsible and adequate reparations for the victims are essential.
The case of Omar and Sarah Al-Jabri is not merely an individual matter; it is a critical test of the authorities’ commitment to justice and human rights. Allowing such practices to continue without accountability sets a dangerous precedent that collective punishment and the use of individuals as hostages can occur with impunity—an outcome that must be unequivocally rejected.
