The Arrest and Sentencing of Saudi Academic Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hazemi: A Case of Repression and Injustice
In July 2021, Saudi security forces arrested Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hazemi, a well-respected academic and professor of Arabic language and literature at King Khalid University, during a late-night raid on his home in the southern city of Abha. The raid was part of an ongoing campaign by the Saudi authorities to silence dissenting voices, especially those calling for reform or expressing views that challenge the regime’s policies.
Al-Hazemi’s arrest was not just another case of political repression in Saudi Arabia—it highlighted the lengths to which the government is willing to go to suppress free speech and intimidate those who advocate for even modest reforms. His case is emblematic of a broader crackdown that has seen journalists, academics, human rights defenders, and social media users imprisoned or silenced.
The Arrest: A Violent Raid and Arbitrary Detention
On the night of his arrest, July 2021, 24 security officers stormed Al-Hazemi’s home, conducting a thorough and intrusive search. They ransacked the house, leaving it in disarray, while detaining Al-Hazemi and isolating him from his family. This dramatic arrest, carried out without any official charges or explanations, marked the beginning of Al-Hazemi’s years-long ordeal of arbitrary detention.
For years after his arrest, the Saudi authorities refused to disclose Al-Hazemi’s whereabouts, the reason for his detention, or the charges against him. This secrecy and lack of transparency reflect a disturbing trend in Saudi Arabia, where enforced disappearances and detentions without legal justification have become common.
The Charges: An Assault on Free Speech
It was not until much later that the charges against Al-Hazemi were revealed, and even then, they were as troubling as they were flimsy. Among the accusations leveled against him were:
Attending a seminar in 2013 titled “Freedom Between Slogans and Reality,” which had been officially sanctioned by authorities in Asir Province. Al-Hazemi’s attendance at this seminar, where academic discussions took place, was later used against him as evidence of dissent.
Posting tweets that criticized the Saudi government’s policies and called for the release of political prisoners. Al-Hazemi denied having control over the Twitter account that posted the tweets, explaining that the account did not align with his writing style and that he had deactivated his social media accounts years before his arrest.
Delivering Friday sermons that allegedly conflicted with the government’s position, though these sermons were given before the passage of Saudi Arabia’s anti-terrorism law and were not considered illegal at the time. Al-Hazemi had signed an official agreement with the provincial government to avoid repeating the sermons, and he continued in his role as a preacher for three more years without incident.
Possessing a book that had been available for over 40 years in public libraries, which was later deemed “banned” without any prior announcement. The vague nature of this accusation demonstrates how arbitrary the charges against Al-Hazemi were, as the list of banned books was not publicly available.
Supporting a banned organization and failing to report individuals with extremist ideologies. Al-Hazemi rejected this charge, arguing that no evidence was presented, and no specific individuals or organizations were mentioned by the prosecution.
These charges, based on tenuous evidence and sweeping accusations, demonstrate the Saudi regime’s determination to punish even the mildest forms of dissent. In reality, Al-Hazemi’s only crime was exercising his right to free speech, a right that is severely restricted in Saudi Arabia.
Connection to the Jeddah Reformers and the Arrest of Mousa Al-Qarni
Al-Hazemi’s arrest is also linked to his family connections, particularly his relationship with Mousa Al-Qarni, a dissident academic and reform advocate who was arrested in 2007 in what is known as the “Jeddah Reformers” or “Rest House Cell” case. Al-Qarni, along with several other intellectuals, was accused of plotting to overthrow the government after they gathered to discuss forming a human rights association.
Al-Qarni and his colleagues were sentenced to lengthy prison terms following a trial that lacked any semblance of fairness or justice. In October 2021, Al-Qarni died in prison due to medical negligence and the poor conditions of his detention. Al-Hazemi had been supporting Al-Qarni’s family, a duty that he could no longer fulfill following his own arrest.
The Jeddah Reformers’ case, much like Al-Hazemi’s, involved charges of political dissent, attempts to promote reform, and advocating for basic human rights—actions that the Saudi government views as dangerous threats to its authority.
The Sentencing: 23 Years in Prison and Additional Restrictions
In 2022, after months of arbitrary detention, the Specialized Criminal Court in Saudi Arabia handed down a harsh sentence against Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hazemi: 23 years in prison, followed by an additional 23-year travel ban. The sentence also required the permanent deletion of his social media accounts, despite Al-Hazemi’s denial of any involvement with the account used to accuse him.
The court invoked Saudi Arabia’s anti-terrorism law to justify the severe sentence, even though the charges against Al-Hazemi did not involve any violent activity or incitement. This misuse of the anti-terrorism law highlights how the regime conflates peaceful dissent with terrorism in an attempt to silence reformers.
Health Deterioration and Inhumane Conditions
Al-Hazemi’s arrest and sentencing have not only deprived him of his freedom but also exposed him to the harsh realities of Saudi prisons, where conditions are often dire, and medical care is inadequate. Many political prisoners in Saudi Arabia face torture, isolation, and medical neglect, and there are concerns that Al-Hazemi could face similar treatment.
In addition to the trauma of his arrest, Al-Hazemi’s prolonged imprisonment, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding his future, has taken a heavy toll on his health. Like many other political prisoners, he faces the possibility of being denied access to adequate medical treatment.
International Response and the Need for Action
The case of Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hazemi underscores the ongoing repression in Saudi Arabia, where the government continues to target academics, reformists, and intellectuals for expressing their views. His 23-year prison sentence, handed down without proper evidence, is a stark reminder of the regime’s intolerance of free speech and political dissent.
The international community must take a stronger stance on Saudi Arabia’s human rights abuses, particularly the country’s misuse of anti-terrorism laws to punish peaceful activists and intellectuals. Governments, international organizations, and human rights advocates must:
Call for the immediate release of Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hazemi and other prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia.
Condemn the arbitrary use of anti-terrorism laws to silence peaceful dissent and demand reforms that guarantee freedom of speech and fair trials.
Increase diplomatic pressure on the Saudi government to ensure that political prisoners are treated humanely and given access to legal representation and medical care.
Only through sustained international pressure can we hope to secure justice for Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hazemi and others like him who have been wrongfully imprisoned for daring to speak out.
