Saudi Arabia Must Reveal the Fate of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahdal, Detained for Criticising Arab Complicity in Gaza Genocide
More than 18 months have passed since the arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahdal, a respected cleric detained by Saudi authorities in November 2023 while performing Umrah in Mecca.
His only “crime”: publishing an article titled “The Betrayal of Arab Rulers”, in which he criticised the weak and complicit stance of Arab leaders following the Riyadh summit on Gaza.
Since his arrest, no official information has been released regarding his whereabouts, legal status, or well-being. Al-Ahdal has effectively become a victim of enforced disappearance, punished for exercising his basic right to free expression on an issue of mass human suffering and moral urgency.
This is not an isolated case. It reflects a broader crackdown that has intensified since Mohammed bin Salman became Crown Prince in 2017. Under his rule, peaceful critics, scholars, and reformists have been relentlessly pursued, often under vague “security” charges meant to silence dissent.
Al-Ahdal’s case is especially significant in the context of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which has lasted for over a year and a half. While Israel continues its military onslaught, Arab governments—including Saudi Arabia—not only remain silent but also enable the war by funneling billions into U.S. arms deals, such as those with BAE Systems, which directly supply weapons to the Israeli military.
Instead of supporting justice, the Saudi regime chooses to imprison those who speak up for it.
Together for Justice calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahdal and all other prisoners of conscience in the kingdom. We also call on the international community and human rights bodies to demand full transparency on Al-Ahdal’s situation, and to hold the Saudi government accountable for silencing voices that dare to defend the people of Gaza.
