Waleed Abu Al-Khair: A Lawyer on Trial for Demanding Justice for Victims of Repression
Saudi lawyer and human rights defender Waleed Abu Al-Khair has now spent over twelve years in detention since his arrest on 15 April 2014, in connection with his peaceful human rights work. His continued imprisonment reflects a prolonged pattern of targeting individuals engaged in legitimate advocacy and legal defense activities.
According to documented facts, Abu Al-Khair was arrested inside a courtroom during a hearing in his own case after refusing to sign a pledge to cease his human rights activities. He was later tried before the Specialized Criminal Court and sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by a 15-year travel ban and a financial penalty.
Available information indicates that his trial was marked by serious due process violations, including the denial of basic fair trial guarantees. The charges brought against him were directly linked to his peaceful activities, including defending detainees, engaging with international organizations, and expressing criticism of state practices.
During his detention, Abu Al-Khair has been subjected to multiple forms of ill-treatment, including physical abuse, solitary confinement, and repeated denial of adequate medical care, despite suffering from chronic health conditions. He has undertaken several hunger strikes in protest against his detention conditions and the denial of medical treatment; however, these actions have not resulted in any substantive change, with authorities continuing to disregard his demands.
In February 2023, he was reportedly assaulted by other inmates inside prison, raising further concerns about his physical safety, particularly in the absence of accountability for such incidents. He was subsequently placed in solitary confinement despite his deteriorating health condition.
From a legal perspective, the continued detention of Abu Al-Khair on the basis of his peaceful human rights activities constitutes arbitrary detention and violates the right to freedom of expression and association, as protected under international human rights law. Furthermore, the denial of necessary medical care raises additional legal concerns related to the prohibition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
This case reflects a broader pattern involving the use of security-related laws to criminalize peaceful human rights work and impose prolonged sentences aimed at deterrence.
Accordingly, Together for Justice calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Waleed Abu Al-Khair, the provision of adequate medical care, and an independent investigation into the violations he has been subjected to, with full accountability for those responsible.
