Seven Years of Injustice: Free Dalal Al-Khalil and Ibrahim Aba Al-Khalil

For over seven years, Saudi authorities have detained humanitarian activist Dalal Al-Khalil and her husband Ibrahim Aba Al-Khalil in a clear violation of their basic human rights. Their arrest on September 28, 2017, in Qassim, marked the beginning of a long ordeal, solely because they dedicated their lives to humanitarian aid—distributing food baskets to the needy and advocating for freedom and justice.
A Life of Service, Punished with Repression
Dalal Al-Khalil, a humanitarian worker, and her husband have endured years of arbitrary detention under inhumane conditions. Reports indicate that Dalal has faced psychological abuse, starvation, medical neglect, and lengthy interrogations in harsh circumstances, stripped of her fundamental rights to fair treatment and a humane environment.
Her arrest is emblematic of the broader crackdown that began in September 2017, during which Saudi authorities detained hundreds of activists, journalists, academics, and reform advocates in a campaign aimed at silencing dissent. Dalal’s activism, which included advocating for the release of her sister Diyaa Al-Khalil, made her a target of this systematic repression.
A Judicial System That Criminalizes Aid Work
In 2021, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced Dalal to 18 years in prison. This unjust sentence demonstrates the extent of the Saudi government’s hostility toward humanitarian work and peaceful activism. Such actions violate international laws and treaties that Saudi Arabia is bound by, including:
Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR):
“No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.”
Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
“No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Demands for Immediate Action
We, at Together for Justice, call on Saudi authorities to:
Immediately and unconditionally release Dalal Al-Khalil, Ibrahim Aba Al-Khalil, and all prisoners of conscience.
Ensure Dalal receives urgent medical care and humane treatment while in custody.
End the systematic targeting of activists, humanitarian workers, and their families.
Open Saudi prisons to international human rights organizations to ensure compliance with global standards.
A Call to the International Community
We urge the United Nations, the European Union, and human rights organizations worldwide to intensify pressure on the Saudi government to end these violations. The persecution of humanitarian workers like Dalal Al-Khalil is not only a domestic issue but a global affront to human rights and the principles of justice.
Freedom Is a Right, Not a Crime
Dalal’s continued detention is a stain on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. Every day she spends behind bars is a reminder of the lengths to which oppressive regimes will go to suppress voices of compassion and justice.
The time to act is now. Saudi Arabia must stop criminalizing humanitarian work and release Dalal Al-Khalil and all unjustly detained individuals.