Seven Years of Injustice: The Unjust Imprisonment of Dr. Salman Al-Ouda and the Saudi Government’s Systemic Repression

Seven years ago, on this day in 2017, Dr. Salman Al-Ouda, a prominent Saudi scholar, reformist, and intellectual, was arrested during Saudi Arabia’s sweeping September crackdown. This brutal campaign, launched under the direction of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, targeted writers, activists, scholars, and human rights defenders. Al-Ouda’s “crime”? A simple tweet calling for peace and reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the wake of the Gulf diplomatic crisis.

Since then, Dr. Al-Ouda has been subjected to the harshest forms of repression, including solitary confinement, denial of medical care, and the complete absence of a fair trial. Despite Saudi Arabia’s eventual reconciliation with Qatar in 2021, Al-Ouda remains behind bars, a symbol of the regime’s intolerance toward even the most peaceful and moderate calls for reform.

The Call for Peace that Led to Imprisonment

Dr. Salman Al-Ouda is not an extremist. He is a well-respected scholar known for his moderate views and peaceful advocacy for reform within Saudi Arabia. His arrest came shortly after he posted a tweet on September 8, 2017, in which he prayed for unity among Gulf nations, saying, “May God unite their hearts for the good of their people.”

This call for peace during a period of intense regional tension was interpreted by the Saudi regime as a threat to its authority. Instead of seeing Al-Ouda’s words as a message of unity, the government labeled him a dissenter for expressing an independent opinion. Shortly after, Al-Ouda was arrested, marking the beginning of a seven-year ordeal characterized by torture, isolation, and systemic abuse.

The Hypocrisy of Reconciliation with Qatar

One of the most glaring aspects of Dr. Al-Ouda’s continued imprisonment is the hypocrisy of the Saudi regime. In January 2021, Saudi Arabia officially reconciled with Qatar, ending a three-year blockade that had strained diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries. The very reconciliation Al-Ouda had called for in 2017 became official government policy. Yet, despite the resolution of the political crisis, Al-Ouda remains behind bars for expressing the very sentiment that Saudi leaders eventually adopted.

This discrepancy highlights a deeper issue within Saudi Arabia’s governance—any expression of dissent, even one as moderate and peaceful as Dr. Al-Ouda’s, is viewed as a threat to the regime’s absolute control. The Saudi government’s actions are not based on law, justice, or the welfare of its people, but on maintaining power through fear and repression.

Solitary Confinement and Torture

Dr. Salman Al-Ouda’s experience in Saudi prisons has been nothing short of torturous. For most of the past seven years, Al-Ouda has been held in solitary confinement, denied access to proper medical care despite suffering from significant health issues, including high blood pressure and a severe eye condition. Solitary confinement, recognized as a form of psychological torture, is often used by the Saudi regime as a tool to break the will of political prisoners, denying them the basic human right of social interaction and exposing them to extreme mental anguish.

Saudi authorities have also refused to provide Al-Ouda with any form of legal representation. His trial has been a mockery of justice, with the Specialized Criminal Court handling his case under the cloak of secrecy, without allowing independent observers or human rights organizations to monitor the proceedings. Al-Ouda faces 37 charges, including “corrupting society” and “inciting public opinion,” all of which stem from his peaceful calls for reform and reconciliation.

The Threat of Execution

In an alarming escalation of its repression, the Saudi regime has called for the death penalty for Dr. Salman Al-Ouda. In 2018, the public prosecutor demanded Al-Ouda’s execution for allegedly “violating the loyalty to the ruler” and “spreading discord in society.” These charges, vague and politically motivated, underscore the regime’s brutal intolerance toward any form of dissent, no matter how peaceful.

Al-Ouda’s case is far from unique in Saudi Arabia, where the death penalty is regularly used as a tool of repression against political opponents, activists, and human rights defenders. The Saudi government’s use of the death penalty, often following sham trials, has drawn widespread international condemnation. Yet, despite global outrage, the regime continues to use this extreme form of punishment to maintain its grip on power.

Collective Punishment: The Case of Khaled Al-Ouda

The Saudi regime’s persecution of Dr. Salman Al-Ouda did not stop with his arrest. In a blatant act of collective punishment, Saudi authorities also targeted his younger brother, Khaled Al-Ouda. Khaled was arrested after he tweeted in support of his brother, calling for his release. This act of solidarity was met with swift retaliation, as Khaled was detained without charges and subjected to the same repressive tactics that his brother endured.

The Saudi government’s use of collective punishment extends beyond Khaled. Many members of Al-Ouda’s family, including his children, have been subjected to travel bans, effectively isolating them within Saudi Arabia and preventing them from seeking asylum or speaking out on the international stage. These measures represent a clear violation of international law, including the prohibition of collective punishment under the Geneva Conventions.

The Need for International Action

Dr. Salman Al-Ouda’s imprisonment is not just a tragedy for his family—it is a symbol of the broader repression that has taken hold in Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Despite the regime’s claims of modernization and reform, the reality is that Saudi Arabia has become one of the world’s most repressive states, where freedom of speech, political participation, and human rights are systematically denied.

It is imperative that the international community take action. Governments, human rights organizations, and global institutions must pressure the Saudi regime to release Dr. Salman Al-Ouda and all other prisoners of conscience. Saudi Arabia’s continued violations of human rights must not go unanswered.