Saudi Authorities Set a New Trial Date for Lawyer Mohammed Al-Bajadi Despite His Sentence Having Expired

Together for Justice expresses its deep concern over the continued detention and judicial harassment of Saudi human rights lawyer Mohammed Al-Bajadi, as the Specialised Criminal Court has scheduled a new hearing for his retrial on 27 October, despite his prison sentence having already expired in 2023.

This move constitutes a blatant violation of both domestic and international law and reflects the Saudi regime’s ongoing policy of silencing reform advocates and human rights defenders by recycling cases and fabricating new charges to justify prolonged imprisonment.

Mohammed Al-Bajadi, one of the founding members of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), has long been targeted for his peaceful activism and defence of victims of injustice. He was arrested in May 2018 after Saudi State Security forces stormed his home at night without a warrant, forcibly disappeared him, and subjected him to severe physical and psychological abuse. This was not the first time he had been targeted — he was previously detained in 2011, when the authorities began their crackdown on ACPRA members in an effort to eliminate independent voices calling for justice and accountability.

Although Al-Bajadi completed his prison term last year, the authorities have refused to release him and have instead chosen to reopen his case, in what can only be described as an act of political revenge designed to break his spirit and intimidate other activists. This continued persecution highlights the Saudi judiciary’s lack of independence and its use as a tool of repression against human rights defenders.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders has previously expressed grave concern over Al-Bajadi’s prolonged detention, stressing that his case represents a deliberate abuse of power and a complete disregard for the rule of law.

Together for Justice affirms that the decision to retry Mohammed Al-Bajadi after the completion of his sentence exposes the falsity of the Saudi regime’s claims of reform and modernisation. Instead, it underscores a consistent pattern of legal manipulation, arbitrary detention, and retaliation against anyone who dares to demand justice or expose corruption.

Together for Justice holds the Saudi authorities fully responsible for Al-Bajadi’s safety and calls for his immediate and unconditional release, the cancellation of all retrial procedures, and the opening of an independent investigation into the violations he has endured since his first arrest.

Together for Justice also urges the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, and the European Union to intensify pressure on the Saudi government to end its campaign of repression against peaceful activists, ensure accountability for perpetrators, and uphold its international human rights obligations.