Saudi Journalist Mohammed Al-Sadiq Detained Without Trial Since April 2019
Together for Justice strongly condemns the continued arbitrary detention of Saudi journalist Mohammed Al-Sadiq, who has been held without judicial authorisation since April 2019. Al-Sadiq was detained for his writings advocating for greater rights and freedoms for women in Saudi Arabia, as well as for expressing his firm opposition to normalising relations with the Israeli occupation and urging the Saudi regime not to pursue such a course.
Since his arrest, Mohammed Al-Sadiq has been held incommunicado, with no access to legal representation or contact with his family, who remain in the dark about his whereabouts and the conditions of his detention. Saudi prisons are infamous for their brutal treatment of dissenters, where systematic abuse and human rights violations against political prisoners are the norm.
The detention of journalist Mohammed Al-Sadiq, along with other prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia, is a blatant violation of human rights and freedom of expression. We call on the international community and human rights organisations to take action and pressure the Saudi regime to immediately release all prisoners of conscience and ensure the improvement of human rights conditions in the kingdom.
Al-Sadiq’s continued detention is part of a broader crackdown by Saudi authorities on independent voices, intellectuals, and journalists who advocate for social and political reforms. This crackdown stands in stark contrast to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's promises to modernise Saudi society and improve the country’s human rights record.
It is important to note that Al-Sadiq is not the only victim of this injustice; many journalists, activists, and human rights defenders remain imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for simply expressing their views. This situation poses a significant threat to freedom of the press and expression in the region and contributes to the growing atmosphere of repression and censorship.
The international community must prioritise the issue of prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia and use all diplomatic and economic means to pressure Riyadh for their immediate release. Countries with strong ties to Saudi Arabia should play a more active role in emphasising the importance of respecting human rights and freedom of expression.
