The Hidden Truth: Uncovering the Ordeal of Saudi Cartoonist Mohammed Al-Hazaa Behind Bars
Behind the concrete walls of Saudi prisons, where hope is buried and humanity is silenced, the tragic story of Mohammed Al-Hazaa adds another page to the grim book of repression. A talented political cartoonist and a father of five, Al-Hazaa has become the latest victim of the kingdom’s relentless crackdown on freedom of expression and dissent.
In February 2018, Saudi security forces raided Al-Hazaa’s home in a violent operation that shook his family to the core. His art studios were ransacked, his belongings confiscated, and he was dragged away before the eyes of his terrified wife and children. His “crime”? Publishing political cartoons in Qatar’s Lusail newspaper and sharing social media posts during the diplomatic and economic blockade of Qatar in 2017. These actions, deemed subversive by Saudi authorities, marked the beginning of Al-Hazaa’s harrowing journey into a legal system designed to crush dissent.
Initially sentenced to six years in prison after a trial riddled with irregularities, Al-Hazaa’s ordeal took a sinister turn when, without warning, the court reopened his case. His sentence was inexplicably extended to 23 years in a move that left his family devastated. His sister, speaking from the United States, expressed the family’s anguish: “We thought he would soon be free. He was supposed to come back to us. Then, suddenly, they decided to crush that hope and give him 23 years. It’s heartbreaking.”
This escalation exemplifies Saudi Arabia’s systematic use of its judiciary as a weapon to suppress critical voices under the guise of combating “terrorism.” The Specialized Criminal Court, notorious for its lack of independence and transparency, has become a tool for persecuting writers, activists, and even artists like Al-Hazaa, whose only “crime” was daring to express an opinion.
The repression does not stop at imprisonment. Like many other political detainees in Saudi Arabia, Al-Hazaa has reportedly endured physical and psychological torture designed to break his will. His health has deteriorated significantly under harsh prison conditions, adding to the suffering of his already devastated family, who struggle emotionally and financially in his absence.
Al-Hazaa’s plight is not an isolated case. His story reflects a broader pattern of human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s rule. The government routinely targets individuals who exercise their right to free expression, imprisoning them following sham trials, forcing confessions under torture, and imposing draconian sentences that defy all international legal standards.
According to numerous human rights reports, Saudi Arabia continues to escalate its repression of dissent. Over the past few years, scores of individuals have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms or executed for peacefully expressing their opinions. This brazen assault on fundamental freedoms is a stark violation of international human rights norms and a chilling message to anyone who dares to challenge the kingdom’s authority.
The case of Mohammed Al-Hazaa starkly illustrates the hypocrisy in Saudi Arabia’s approach to justice. Arrested and sentenced for creating political cartoons and posting on social media in support of Qatar during the blockade, Al-Hazaa remains imprisoned even after Saudi Arabia’s reconciliation with Qatar. This ongoing punishment raises troubling questions: how can a nation that has restored diplomatic ties with its former rival continue to persecute an individual for actions that are no longer controversial under its current policies? This inconsistency underscores the deep flaws in Saudi Arabia’s judicial system, where justice is wielded as a weapon to silence dissent rather than uphold fairness and truth.
Together for Justice unequivocally condemns the Saudi government’s treatment of Mohammed Al-Hazaa and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. We demand accountability for the flagrant abuse of his rights and those of countless other political prisoners languishing in Saudi jails. The international community must not stand idle while a regime weaponizes its judicial system to silence dissent and crush the human spirit.
We call on governments, international organizations, and civil society to intensify pressure on Saudi Arabia to end its campaign of repression. Justice for Mohammed Al-Hazaa and all those unjustly detained in Saudi prisons requires collective and urgent action. The international community must demand an end to this culture of impunity and hold Saudi authorities accountable for their gross human rights violations.
Al-Hazaa’s tragic case serves as a sobering reminder: in Saudi Arabia, freedom of expression is a crime, and those who dare to dream of justice face the harshest consequences. Together for Justice remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for the release of Al-Hazaa and all prisoners of conscience, and we will continue to fight for a world where human rights are respected, and voices are not silenced by fear.
