Together for Justice Demands Immediate Clarification on Disappearance of Saudi Human Rights Activist Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani
Together for Justice urgently calls on Saudi authorities to disclose the fate and whereabouts of Dr. Mohammed Fahd Al-Qahtani, a prominent human rights activist and reformist who has been forcibly disappeared from Al-Ha’ir Prison since October 2022. Despite repeated inquiries from his family and escalating pressure from international human rights organizations, Saudi officials have refused to provide any information regarding his condition or location, intensifying concerns for his safety and wellbeing.
Dr. Al-Qahtani, a former professor at the Riyadh Institute of Diplomatic Studies and co-founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (HASM), was initially detained in 2012 on charges stemming from his peaceful advocacy for human rights, governmental accountability, and constitutional reform in Saudi Arabia. Sentenced to ten years in prison plus a travel ban of the same duration, he endured years of mistreatment, lack of adequate medical care, and harsh prison conditions, prompting him to stage several hungers strikes in protest.
Family and Rights Advocates in the Dark
Dr. Al-Qahtani’s wife, Maha, last heard from him on October 24, 2022, the day he was scheduled to make a routine call. However, no call was received, and her inquiries to Al-Ha’ir Prison about his whereabouts have since been ignored. In one alarming instance, prison officials denied his presence in the system entirely. Further inquiries by Maha have been met with indifference and deflection, with officials even advising her in July 2023 to stop asking questions about her husband’s fate. Adding to her distress, Saudi authorities recently issued a threat, warning her to remain silent about her husband’s case to avoid repercussions.
An Urgent Call for Transparency
Together for Justice condemns this alarming act of enforced disappearance and the Saudi government’s consistent denial of Dr. Al-Qahtani’s legal and human rights. His sentence officially ended in November 2022, yet rather than being released, he remains hidden away, with Saudi authorities offering no explanation.
Together for Justice demands that Saudi authorities:
Immediately clarify Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani’s whereabouts and wellbeing, providing his family and the public with transparent updates.
Ensure that Dr. Al-Qahtani receives adequate medical care and humane treatment in accordance with international human rights standards.
Release Dr. Al-Qahtani and all other prisoners of conscience detained solely for their peaceful activism and reform efforts.
Dr. Al-Qahtani’s detention and disappearance violate numerous international agreements and basic human rights standards. Together for Justice calls on the international community, human rights bodies, and governments to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for these gross abuses. The arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of peaceful reformists like Dr. Al-Qahtani signify a troubling regression in Saudi Arabia’s human rights practices, demanding immediate international attention.