Together for Justice Condemns the 23-Year Sentence of Saudi Cartoonist Mohammed al-Hazza for Exercising Free Expression

Together for Justice strongly condemns the unjust sentencing of Saudi cartoonist Mohammed al-Hazza to 23 years in prison for his satirical artwork that allegedly insulted the leadership of Saudi Arabia. This severe punishment, handed down by the Saudi Specialized Criminal Court, is yet another alarming indication of the Kingdom’s ongoing suppression of freedom of expression under the rule of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Mohammed al-Hazza, a 48-year-old father of five, was violently arrested in February 2018 during a brutal raid on his home. Saudi security forces stormed his residence, ransacked his studio, and detained him without regard for his family’s well-being. The arrest came just months after Saudi Arabia, along with its allies, initiated a diplomatic and economic blockade against Qatar, accusing the small Gulf nation of supporting terrorism—claims widely seen as politically motivated. Al-Hazza’s so-called “crime” was creating political cartoons for the Qatari newspaper Lusail and sharing social media posts that were alleged to support Qatar during the blockade.

His detention has torn him from his wife and children, who have since faced immense emotional and financial hardship. Al-Hazza’s sister, Asrar al-Hazza, speaking from the United States, described the family’s deep anguish at the arrest and subsequent 23-year sentence, especially given the fact that he was initially sentenced to six years and was on the verge of release before the court inexplicably reopened the case. “He was almost there… almost free,” she said. “And then, suddenly, they reopened the case, and the sentence was extended to 23 years.”

Al-Hazza’s case underscores the broader, systematic crackdown on free expression in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi authorities have repeatedly targeted individuals who voice dissent or produce content deemed even vaguely critical of the government. This includes writers, activists, and, as in al-Hazza’s case, artists whose work challenges the status quo. Over the past two years, dozens of individuals have been convicted and sentenced to long prison terms for exercising their right to free speech, particularly on social media.

Like many detainees in Saudi Arabia, Mohammed al-Hazza’s ordeal did not stop at imprisonment. Numerous reports from detainees and their families indicate that the Saudi regime routinely subjects prisoners of conscience to physical and psychological torture. There are credible concerns that al-Hazza, like others detained for exercising free speech, has endured inhumane treatment designed to break his spirit and force coerced confessions.

This brutal approach to silencing dissent is part of a broader pattern in Saudi Arabia, where political prisoners are denied access to legal representation, held in secret detention centers, and subjected to torture. Many are forced to sign confessions under duress, which are later used as evidence in politically motivated trials.

The Saudi judiciary, which lacks independence and operates under the direct influence of the Crown Prince, has been increasingly weaponized to enforce silence. In recent years, the courts have handed down excessively harsh sentences, including long prison terms, for activists, writers, and even social media users. Al-Hazza’s case is only the latest in a long line of politically motivated convictions.

Together for Justice urgently calls on the international community to take a firm stance against Saudi Arabia’s escalating human rights violations. The 23-year sentence handed to Mohammed al-Hazza is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by anyone who dares to exercise their right to free speech within the Kingdom. Governments, international organizations, and civil society must pressure the Saudi authorities to halt these abuses and demand the immediate and unconditional release of al-Hazza and other prisoners of conscience.

Saudi Arabia’s claim that these individuals are committing terrorism-related offenses is a thinly veiled attempt to legitimize its campaign of repression. The real crime, however, is the state’s systematic denial of basic human rights to its citizens, as it silences voices that dare to question or criticize the leadership.