Sheikh Dr. Rashid bin Hassan Al-Almaei’s Life Is in Grave Danger in Detention
Together for Justice expresses its deep concern over credible reports confirming the rapid deterioration of the health of Sheikh Dr. Rashid bin Hassan Al-Almaei, who has been arbitrarily detained since July 8, 2021, and is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence, in addition to a travel ban of the same duration. His case reflects the Saudi authorities’ ongoing retaliatory campaign against academics and independent thinkers.
According to reliable sources from inside the prison, Sheikh Al-Almaei’s health has been severely declining, while he is being denied proper medical care. Prison authorities have reportedly refused to transfer him to a specialised medical facility, placing his life in serious and immediate danger. This deliberate medical neglect constitutes a form of slow execution, and the Saudi authorities must be held fully accountable for its consequences.
Sheikh Al-Almaei was arrested in connection with his participation in a licensed seminar in 2013, titled “Freedom Between Slogan and Reality”, held at the residence of Dr. Awad Al-Qarni, in addition to his possession of a well-known religious book titled “Min Huda Al-Islam: Contemporary Fatwas”. The book contains no incitement or legal violations. Despite the passage of nearly eight years since those events, he was sentenced to nine years in prison following his arrest.
The trial of Sheikh Al-Almaei lacked any legal basis and was entirely political in nature, falling short of the minimum standards of justice. It is part of a systematic policy adopted by the Saudi regime to criminalise independent thought and silence scholars and religious figures. Instead of honouring those who contribute to public awareness and intellectual discourse, the authorities have chosen to imprison them based on vague and unjust charges that would not withstand scrutiny under international law.
His continued imprisonment, at a time when Saudi Arabia claims to be implementing legal and social reforms, stands in stark contrast to the reality on the ground—where freedom of expression remains a punishable offence and intellectual engagement is treated as a threat.
Together for Justice affirms that Sheikh Al-Almaei’s case has now become a matter of life and death, and calls for urgent international action to save him. His case is not an isolated incident but part of a broader campaign to eliminate pluralism and suppress dissent, in favour of enforcing a singular, authoritarian narrative.
Accordingly, we demand:
- The immediate and unconditional release of Sheikh Dr. Rashid bin Hassan Al-Almaei, and the annulment of all charges and sentences against him.
- His urgent transfer to a specialised medical facility to receive proper healthcare, and full access to all necessary medical treatment.
- An end to political trials targeting peaceful expression and intellectual engagement, and the repeal of laws that criminalise thought and opinion.
- Immediate intervention by the United Nations, human rights organisations, and international legal bodies to pressure Saudi authorities into ending their repeated violations against scholars, activists, and free thinkers.
The ongoing detention of Sheikh Al-Almaei amid worsening health conditions is not only a legal and moral outrage, but also a clear indictment of a judicial system used as a tool of repression. The Saudi regime continues to treat independent thought as a threat, and peaceful dialogue as a crime.
