Saudi Lawyer Muteb Dhafer Al-Omari Remains Arbitrarily Detained Despite Completing His Sentence

Despite having fully completed his seven-year prison sentence, Saudi lawyer Muteb Dhafer Al-Omari remains arbitrarily detained, in a clear violation of both domestic law and international human rights standards. Al-Omari was arrested in late 2018 solely over tweets in which he expressed his views on the future of Saudi Arabia—peaceful opinions that fall squarely within the protected right to freedom of expression.

Following his arrest, Al-Omari was subjected to serious human rights violations, including torture and electric shocks during interrogation. These abuses led to a significant deterioration in his physical and psychological health. Rather than being investigated or remedied, these violations were followed by a seven-year prison sentence handed down in a trial that lacked basic fair-trial guarantees.

As of today, Al-Omari continues to be held in detention despite the expiration of his sentence, with no legal justification, court order, or transparent procedure to legitimize his continued imprisonment. His ongoing detention constitutes arbitrary detention, as defined under international law, including the standards set by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

Al-Omari’s case reflects a broader, well-documented pattern of repression in Saudi Arabia since the rise of Mohammed bin Salman to power in 2017. During this period, the Saudi system has increasingly criminalized peaceful expression, legal advocacy, and independent thought, particularly targeting lawyers, intellectuals, and critics who engage in non-violent public discourse.

The continued detention of Muteb Dhafer Al-Omari after the completion of his sentence exposes the absence of judicial independence and underscores how detention is used as a punitive tool rather than a lawful measure. It also raises serious concerns about the use of post-sentence detention as a method of intimidation and collective deterrence.

Together for Justice calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Muteb Dhafer Al-Omari and urges the Saudi system to end the practice of holding individuals beyond their sentences. The organization further calls on the international community, UN mechanisms, and legal bodies to take concrete action to address arbitrary detention in Saudi Arabia and to hold those responsible for these violations accountable.