Saudi Authorities Refuse to Release Abdulaziz Al-Sunaidi Despite Completion of His Sentence
Together for Justice expresses its deep concern over the continued detention of Saudi human rights activist Abdulaziz Al-Sunaidi, despite the completion of his full eight-year prison sentence. Al-Sunaidi was arrested in February 2015 over tweets in which he expressed solidarity with members of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA).
From the outset, Al-Sunaidi’s arrest was unlawful. It came as part of a broader crackdown on peaceful human rights advocates in the Kingdom. He was denied a fair trial and convicted solely for peacefully expressing his views, without any evidence that he had committed a crime warranting imprisonment. The charges against him were vague and based entirely on tweets that did not incite violence, but rather called for justice and human rights—making his detention a clear violation of his right to freedom of expression.
Although his release is now both a legal and moral obligation, Saudi authorities continue to detain him arbitrarily, in blatant violation of both domestic and international law. This indicates that the issue is not about the implementation of a sentence, but rather a form of prolonged punishment for his human rights stance and peaceful activism.
Al-Sunaidi’s case exemplifies the systematic injustice faced by prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia. The pattern begins with arbitrary arrest, continues with trials that fall far short of international fair trial standards, and is compounded by prison conditions marked by denial of medical care, restrictions on family contact, and lack of access to independent legal representation. This reflects a judicial system that has been transformed into a tool of repression rather than a guarantor of justice.
Abdulaziz Al-Sunaidi was not convicted of any violent crime or incitement. He was imprisoned simply for using his platform to speak out against injustice, advocate for reform, and defend human rights—actions that should be protected in any state claiming to uphold the rule of law.
His continued detention after serving his sentence places additional legal responsibility on Saudi authorities and represents a dangerous precedent of arbitrary detention beyond the completion of legal terms, clearly aimed at silencing dissent and restricting peaceful expression.
In this context, Together for Justice calls on the international community to pressure Saudi authorities to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release Abdulaziz Al-Sunaidi, and all those who have completed their sentences but remain unlawfully detained.
- Launch an independent investigation into the reasons for his continued detention and hold those responsible accountable.
- Guarantee that no retaliatory measures are taken against him following his release, and ensure he is free to exercise his civil and political rights.
- Review the cases of all prisoners of conscience who have completed their sentences but remain in detention without legal justification.
