Together for Justice Joins International Calls for the Release of Saudi Wikipedian Osama Khalid

Together for Justice has welcomed the launch of a new international campaign by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) calling for the release of Saudi Wikipedian, blogger, and doctor Osama Khalid, who has been detained since July 2020 over his peaceful online activity and contributions to ويكيبيديا.

Together for Justice expressed its solidarity with international human rights voices demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Khalid, whose case has become one of the most prominent examples of the targeting of digital expression and access to knowledge in Saudi Arabia.

Osama Khalid, a pediatrician and digital rights advocate, was arrested during the COVID-19 lockdown period because of his work as a Wikipedia editor and administrator, where he contributed to articles and content related to public and human rights issues, in addition to his online advocacy for freedom of information and digital freedoms.

According to available information, Khalid was initially sentenced to five years in prison before the sentence was dramatically increased during the appeal stage. The punishment was later reduced through multiple judicial stages until a final sentence of 14 years in prison was confirmed in February 2026.

The significant inconsistency in sentencing throughout the judicial process has raised serious concerns regarding judicial standards and fair trial guarantees, particularly given that the case relates to peaceful intellectual and digital activity rather than violence or incitement.

Khalid’s prosecution before the Specialized Criminal Court, which is generally associated with terrorism-related cases, has also raised broader legal concerns over the expanding use of counterterrorism laws to prosecute peaceful expression, publishing, and knowledge-sharing activities.

Together for Justice believes that Osama Khalid’s case extends far beyond an individual prosecution and reflects a wider pattern of restrictions on digital space in Saudi Arabia, where users and activists are increasingly targeted for participating in public discourse or contributing content that does not align with official narratives — even on open knowledge platforms such as Wikipedia.

The case further highlights the growing use of judicial proceedings and lengthy prison sentences as tools of intimidation and deterrence, effectively criminalizing peaceful digital and intellectual work while undermining the right to freedom of expression and access to information.

Together for Justice stresses that contributing to public knowledge platforms or expressing opinions online should never lead to imprisonment or prosecution, and that protecting digital freedom of expression has become increasingly urgent amid the escalating targeting of online users and activists.

Accordingly, Together for Justice calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Osama Khalid, guarantees of a fair trial consistent with international standards, and an end to the targeting of individuals for peaceful online activity.

Together for Justice also calls on the international community, human rights institutions, and digital and knowledge-based platforms to continue pressing for the protection of digital freedoms and to oppose the use of vague security and counterterrorism laws to criminalize peaceful online expression and knowledge-sharing activities.