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Over 1,140 Days Behind Bars: Saudi Academic Abdullah Al-Yahya Still Detained for Rejecting Normalization with Israel

More than 1,140 days have passed since Saudi academic Dr. Abdullah Al-Yahya was arbitrarily detained, solely for expressing his opposition to normalization with Israel. Since his arrest in December 2021, he has been held without trial, denied communication with his family, and subjected to severe restrictions—another glaring example of Saudi Arabia’s escalating crackdown on free speech and political expression.

Dr. Al-Yahya’s ordeal began when he disappeared suddenly in December 2021, ceasing all online activity. It was later revealed that he had been arrested and detained in a State Security detention center, yet for months, Saudi authorities refused to disclose his whereabouts or the reasons for his arrest. He was denied access to legal representation, prevented from communicating with his family, and left in complete isolation—all in violation of basic human rights and due process.

His so-called crime? A single tweet. On December 19, 2021, just days before his disappearance, Dr. Al-Yahya posted:

“To those advocating normalization and peace: The last thing the Zionist entity—on its way to becoming a rabbinic republic—cares about is your applause for peace.”

https://twitter.com/Dr_AbuMusa/status/1472584519039569920

This brief statement was enough to land him in detention, at a time when Saudi authorities were aggressively pushing a cultural and media campaign to pave the way for normalization with Israel. His arrest was clearly intended to silence any public opposition to these efforts and to send a message that any form of dissent—no matter how peaceful—would not be tolerated.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Yahya is not just a political detainee; he is a renowned scholar in Islamic studies, holding a Ph.D. from the University of Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan, with a dissertation on contemporary Islamic movements in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Over the years, he has contributed significantly to academic research, public discourse, and intellectual debates, making his detention even more troubling, as it signals a direct assault on academic freedom and intellectual diversity in Saudi Arabia.

His continued imprisonment despite his advanced age is a grave violation of his rights. Not only was his arrest arbitrary and unlawful from the beginning, but his prolonged detention without trial highlights Saudi Arabia’s blatant disregard for international human rights standards. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) guarantees the right to freedom of expression, while Article 9 explicitly prohibits arbitrary detention—both of which the Saudi government has repeatedly violated in this case.

Saudi authorities claim to be pursuing a path of reform and modernization under Vision 2030, yet the ongoing detention of Dr. Al-Yahya and countless others exposes the reality of authoritarian rule and suppression of dissent. Instead of fostering open dialogue and intellectual exchange, the government is silencing scholars, thinkers, and activists who dare to challenge its political direction.

Together for Justice calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Abdullah Al-Yahya and all other prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia. We demand a full and independent investigation into the human rights violations he has endured—from enforced disappearance and denial of legal rights to prolonged arbitrary detention. Those responsible for these violations must be held accountable, and the Saudi government must end its systematic suppression of free speech.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Yahya’s case is not just about one individual; it is part of a broader crackdown on free expression in Saudi Arabia, where merely questioning state policies can lead to indefinite detention. The international community must intensify pressure on Saudi authorities to uphold human rights commitments and immediately release all political prisoners.

Freedom of expression is not a crime. Speaking against normalization is not a crime. The continued imprisonment of Dr. Al-Yahya is a stain on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, and his immediate release is not just a demand—but an urgent necessity.

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