Renewed Calls for the Release of Dr. Khalid Al-Ajmi Amid Reports of Deteriorating Health
Recent reports have raised alarm over the deteriorating health of Dr. Khalid Al-Ajmi, a prominent scholar and former member of the Board of Trustees of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, who has been unjustly detained by Saudi authorities for nearly three years. In light of these developments, we renew our urgent calls for his immediate release and for the international community to intervene in this dire situation.
Dr. Al-Ajmi’s ordeal began in September 2017 when he was first arrested during a widespread crackdown on activists, academics, and dissidents across Saudi Arabia. Despite enduring harsh treatment, poor prison conditions, and an unfair trial that lacked the most basic standards of justice, he was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison. The charges against him were directly related to his political views and public stances, reflecting the broader repression faced by those who dare to criticize the Saudi regime.
Although Dr. Al-Ajmi completed his prison sentence, he was not released until August 2021, when his health had significantly worsened. His release came under the condition of house arrest, requiring him to remain under close surveillance and only allowing movement with special permission from the authorities. He was also forced to wear an electronic ankle monitor to track his every move—an inhumane and degrading measure that further restricted his freedom.
However, the Saudi authorities re-arrested Dr. Al-Ajmi in November 2021, just three months after his conditional release, despite being fully aware of his critical health condition. The re-arrest was reportedly due to his frequent outings from his home without notifying the authorities, even though he remained under strict surveillance. Since then, Dr. Al-Ajmi has been held in detention without proper access to medical care, and communication with his family and legal representatives has been severely limited, raising grave concerns about his safety and well-being.
The ongoing detention of Dr. Al-Ajmi is not only a violation of his fundamental human rights but also a clear breach of international agreements that Saudi Arabia is party to. These agreements guarantee every individual the right to a dignified life, including the right to security, freedom, and access to adequate medical care. The Saudi government’s treatment of Dr. Al-Ajmi starkly contrasts these obligations, reflecting a broader pattern of repression against those who speak out against the regime.
As his health continues to decline, the risk to Dr. Al-Ajmi’s life grows ever more severe. We hold the Saudi authorities fully responsible for his safety and demand immediate action to ensure he receives the medical attention he desperately needs. The inhumane conditions of his detention must end, and he must be allowed to live with the dignity and freedom that every human being deserves.
We call upon international human rights organizations, UN bodies, and governments worldwide to exert pressure on the Saudi regime to release Dr. Khalid Al-Ajmi and all other political prisoners detained for exercising their right to free speech and expression. It is imperative that urgent investigations be conducted into the violations suffered by Dr. Al-Ajmi and others like him, and that those responsible for these abuses are held accountable.
The continued detention of Dr. Al-Ajmi is a grim reminder of the lengths to which the Saudi government will go to silence dissent. As his situation becomes increasingly perilous, it is our collective responsibility to amplify his voice and advocate for his immediate release. We must not allow his plight, and that of countless others, to be forgotten in the face of ongoing repression.
