Saudi Journalist Zana Al-Shehri Marks Five Years of Enforced Disappearance for Demanding Constitutional Monarchy
Saudi journalist Zana Al-Shehri has endured five years of enforced disappearance and imprisonment without charge for her calls for a constitutional monarchy in Saudi Arabia. Detained in late 2019 during a sweeping crackdown on writers, activists, and influencers, Al-Shehri’s only known “offense” was her support for political reform, expressed through tweets endorsing the 2019 wave of Arab Spring protests. Her arrest and continued detention underscore the Saudi government’s harsh suppression of voices advocating for change.
Zana Al-Shehri was detained following tweets in which she voiced support for the political reforms sought by other Arab nations. She promoted the idea of Saudi Arabia transitioning to a constitutional monarchy, a stance that authorities deemed a threat. In response, she was forcibly disappeared, stripped of her rights, and placed in conditions amounting to psychological and physical abuse. Since then, her family and legal team have been denied any contact with her or updates on her well-being, highlighting the government’s brutal tactic of severing detainees from any support network.
Saudi authorities have refused to present Al-Shehri to the judiciary or disclose formal charges, leaving her and her family in a state of perpetual uncertainty. Reports from human rights organizations reveal that many detained activists, particularly female detainees, have suffered severe abuse, including sexual harassment, physical assault, and torture. The Saudi regime has concealed the plight of detainees like Al-Shehri, and reports of deteriorating health and harsh treatment have surfaced, despite strict secrecy.
The Saudi government’s use of broad counterterrorism laws to detain and silence activists has drawn criticism from international bodies. A recent statement by a prominent United Nations official accused Saudi authorities of using counterterrorism as a pretext for arbitrary detention and curbing freedom of expression, underscoring the government’s disregard for basic human rights.
Together for Justice joins the growing call to end the systemic torture and arbitrary detention in Saudi Arabia. We demand the immediate release of Zana Al-Shehri and all prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia, urging international actors to hold the Saudi government accountable for these abuses. The plight of Zana Al-Shehri exemplifies the broader struggle for human rights and freedom of expression within Saudi Arabia, where voices of dissent are ruthlessly silenced.
It is imperative that the international community intensify pressure on Saudi Arabia, ensuring accountability and justice for those unlawfully detained. Together for Justice calls on governments and organizations to support the victims of enforced disappearance and torture, demanding transparency on their status and securing their release. Justice for Zana Al-Shehri, and all those who have been forcibly silenced, must not be delayed.
