Together for Justice condemns the ongoing arbitrary detention of Fahd Ramadan, a Yemeni citizen holding Dutch nationality, who has been held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for over fifteen months, without being brought before any judicial authority or granted a fair trial, in clear violation of the most basic principles of justice and due process.
Ramadan was arrested on 22 November 2023 in the city of Jeddah, just two days after arriving in the Kingdom—his birthplace—to perform Umrah and complete some legal paperwork. Since then, he has remained in arbitrary detention, denied access to legal representation or full knowledge of the case against him.
Despite never appearing in court, Saudi authorities forcibly coerced him into signing confessions related to four tweets allegedly attributed to him, which included criticism of the Saudi authorities. Some of these tweets date back years, and it remains unconfirmed whether they were even written by him.
Based on these forced confessions, charges were brought against him in an unlawful and irregular manner. These coerced confessions, extracted under duress or threat, are devoid of legal legitimacy and represent a flagrant violation of international law.
Ramadan suffers from diabetes, and his health has significantly deteriorated as a result of deliberate medical neglect inside the detention facility—reflecting a clear disregard for his right to healthcare and basic human dignity.
The case of Fahd Ramadan reflects the repressive approach adopted by Saudi authorities in targeting visitors, pilgrims, and foreign nationals, particularly dual nationals or residents abroad, by monitoring past opinions or exploiting private conversations to fabricate charges against them.
Ramadan’s arrest came in the wake of an incitement campaign on social media led by state-linked digital militias, following the leak of a private WhatsApp conversation in which he expressed criticism of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s policies.
The organisation has also documented similar cases during the same period, including:
- Abdelrahman Morsi (known as “Zelzal El-Saeed”), who was arrested in October 2023 while performing Umrah, after posting videos condemning the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
- Dr. Abdullah Faisal Al-Ahdal, who was arrested in November 2023, and remains in detention under similarly harsh conditions.
- Islam Sobhi, an Egyptian lawyer who was arrested shortly after performing Hajj, following the publication of a video in which he exposed the lack of medical care available to ill pilgrims.
Together for Justice calls on the international community and the Dutch government to take urgent action and pressure the Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Fahd Ramadan, ensure he receives urgent medical care, and improve his detention conditions in accordance with international human rights standards. Together for Justice also calls for an end to the targeting of visitors and pilgrims based on their past opinions or private conversations, and demands an independent investigation into the violations committed against Fahd Ramadan and others, with full accountability for those responsible.