Saudi activist and blogger Mohammed Al-Fawzan, widely known as Abu Noura, has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for more than four years without formal charges or a trial. His only apparent offense is his vocal criticism of the Saudi government’s policies, which he expressed on social media over ten years ago.
Al-Fawzan, a prominent figure on social media, is followed by tens of thousands of Saudis. He is known for his bold opinions and his willingness to speak out on sensitive issues. Over the years, Al-Fawzan has criticised various aspects of life in Saudi Arabia, including the private sector and the government’s approach to democracy and political detainees. These outspoken views eventually led to his arrest in April 2020.
Despite being held for over four years, the Saudi authorities have yet to formally charge Al-Fawzan or bring him to trial. Like many other political prisoners in the kingdom, he has been denied basic human rights, including regular communication with the outside world, consistent contact with his family, and the ability to appoint a lawyer.
The conditions of his detention are reported to be harsh and in violation of international standards for prisoner treatment. Al-Fawzan, like many others detained for expressing dissent, has been subjected to psychological and physical mistreatment. The uncertainty surrounding his case has also caused significant distress to his family, who have been left in the dark about his fate.
As Saudi Arabia continues to hold political prisoners like Mohammed Al-Fawzan without trial, the international community, including Western governments, has shown a troubling willingness to overlook these human rights abuses. Despite President Joe Biden’s campaign promises to hold Saudi officials accountable, including for the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the reality has been a continued cooperation with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This cooperation persists even though the same Western governments once condemned Khashoggi’s assassination.
This ongoing collaboration with the Saudi regime underscores a glaring inconsistency between the rhetoric of human rights advocacy and the actual policies of Western nations. Economic and strategic interests have often taken precedence over the principled stance on human rights, allowing the repression in Saudi Arabia to continue largely unchecked. As Mohammed Al-Fawzan and others remain unjustly imprisoned, it is crucial for the international community to reassess its engagement with Saudi Arabia and ensure that human rights are not sacrificed for political convenience.