Name: Salman Fahd Al-Ouda
Field of Work: Islamic scholar, reformist thinker, and academic
Date of Arrest: September 9, 2017
Sentence: No final ruling yet; the prosecution is seeking the death penalty
Current Place of Detention: Al-Ha’ir Prison, Riyadh
Charges Against Him:
- Inciting public opinion against the rulers
- Repeated attempts to spread corruption
- Alleged links with individuals and groups affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood
- Insufficient prayers for the ruler
- Advocating for government reform in Saudi Arabia
- Allegedly inciting people to push the country toward revolutions
Trial and Sentencing Timeline:
- September 9, 2017: Arrested after posting a tweet calling for reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Qatar amid the Gulf crisis
- September 2017 – July 2018: Held without formal charges or trial, subjected to mistreatment, sleep deprivation, and denial of medication
- January 2018: Transferred to the hospital due to deteriorating health conditions
- September 4, 2018: Trial began; prosecution sought the death penalty
- 2019 – 2020: Dozens of court hearings postponed for unknown reasons
- Late 2019: Transferred from Dhahban Prison in Jeddah to Al-Ha’ir Prison in Riyadh
- March 14, 2021: Secret court session lasted only a few seconds; next hearing scheduled for July
- July 6, 2021: Last known hearing; no further sessions have been scheduled since
Violations:
- Arbitrary Detention: Arrested without a warrant or clear charges
- Denial of a Fair Trial:
- Secret trial sessions with continuous postponements
- Denied access to a lawyer and the right to defend himself
- Torture and Medical Neglect:
- Lost half of his vision and hearing due to medical neglect
- Deprived of essential blood pressure and cholesterol medication
- Spent prolonged periods in solitary confinement under inhumane conditions
- Collective Punishment of His Family:
- Travel ban imposed on all family members
- His brother, Khaled Al-Ouda, was arrested in September 2017 for merely demanding his release
Who is Sheikh Salman Al-Ouda?
Sheikh Salman Al-Ouda is one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent Islamic scholars and reformist thinkers, widely recognized for his calls for peaceful political reform and human rights. His teachings emphasized moderation, dialogue, and unity, making him one of the most influential voices in the Arab world.
He was arrested in September 2017 during a mass crackdown, not for any crime, but for a simple tweet:
“May God bring their hearts together for the good of their people.”
This short prayer for reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Qatar during the Gulf crisis led to his imprisonment for over seven years, in a politically motivated trial that has nothing to do with justice.
Ironically, Saudi Arabia restored ties with Qatar in 2021 under the Al-Ula Agreement, yet Sheikh Al-Ouda remains behind bars, proving that his detention is purely political revenge for his reformist views.
How Long Will This Injustice Continue?
How can Saudi Arabia claim to be “reforming and modernizing” while imprisoning scholars and peaceful reformists?
How can it market itself as a leader in global progress while keeping Sheikh Al-Ouda in solitary confinement and denying him medical care?
FIFA and Expo 2030, you are giving legitimacy to a regime that imprisons voices of peace and dialogue while pretending to embrace openness! Is this what you stand for? We demand the immediate release of Sheikh Salman Al-Ouda and an end to the grave human rights violations he continues to suffer.