The Case of Dawood Al-Ali: Imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for Opposing Normalization with Israel
Saudi Arabia’s prisons are filled with individuals detained for one reason: their opposition to normalization with Israel. Amid the kingdom’s shift toward diplomatic and economic ties with Israel, numerous Saudi citizens who have vocally rejected these moves now find themselves imprisoned. Many of these detainees are prominent bloggers, activists, journalists, and academics who dared to stand against normalization and advocate for Palestine.
One of the most prominent cases is that of Dawood Al-Ali, a blogger from Al-Ahsa. Known for his strong stance against normalization, Al-Ali was arrested in December 2020 after expressing his concerns on social media. Through a series of tweets, he called on the Saudi regime to uphold its long-standing support for Palestine, condemning normalization as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause. His social media, once a platform for pro-Palestine advocacy, became the reason for his arrest. His trial, which took place in secrecy and was marked by significant due process violations, concluded in 2022 with a staggering 25-year prison sentence handed down by the Specialized Criminal Court.
The targeting of Al-Ali is not isolated. Saudi prisons hold a multitude of political prisoners who have voiced opposition to the normalization process. Individuals such as Mohammed Al-Rabeea, journalist Maha Al-Refaidi, and academic Abdullah Al-Yahya are among those detained. Clerics, journalists, and intellectuals like Abdulaziz Al-Turaifi, Sheikh Saleh Al-Talib, and activist Omar Napoli have similarly faced harsh sentences for their criticisms of the regime’s stance toward Israel.
These detainees have been subjected to enforced disappearances, prolonged arbitrary detention, and secret trials, often without adequate access to legal representation. Reports indicate that many have endured psychological and physical abuses during detention, underscoring the Saudi government’s severe suppression of free expression.
By targeting those who advocate for Palestine, Saudi Arabia sends a clear message: dissent on this issue will not be tolerated. The kingdom’s actions underscore a broader agenda to align politically with Israel, even if it means stifling longstanding voices of support for Palestinian rights. This repressive trend not only violates the detainees’ fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly but also undermines the values of justice and solidarity for which they stood.
Together for Justice calls for the immediate release of all individuals detained for opposing normalization with Israel. We urge the international community to demand accountability from Saudi Arabia for its continuous violations of human rights, calling for urgent investigations into the arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and unfair trials imposed on these prisoners. Silence on this issue cannot continue—human rights must be defended, and justice must be served.
