Sentence Increased After Completion: Saudi Authorities Extend Imprisonment of Abdullah Al-Sayel Through Secret Proceedings

Together for Justice strongly condemns the Saudi authorities’ decision to increase the prison sentence of prisoner of conscience Abdullah Ibrahim Al-Sayel from five to nine years, in a move that represents a blatant disregard for the rule of law and fundamental principles of justice.

This escalation comes after Al-Sayel had already completed his original five-year sentence. His continued detention, followed by the imposition of a harsher sentence, constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of liberty lacking any legitimate legal basis. Available information indicates that this decision was issued through undisclosed and secret proceedings, without transparency, without adequate legal representation, and without affording him the opportunity to challenge the ruling.

Al-Sayel was originally arrested in September 2019 in connection with tweets in which he expressed support for prisoners of conscience. His case has been marked by serious due process violations, including allegations of torture and ill-treatment aimed at extracting confessions, as well as restrictions on family contact and detention conditions that fall short of international standards.

The retroactive extension of his sentence, particularly after its completion and through opaque judicial mechanisms, constitutes a direct violation of the principle of legality and further entrenches a pattern in which judicial processes are used to prolong detention outside the boundaries of lawful procedure. His initial detention itself, based on peaceful expression, already meets the criteria of arbitrary detention and violates the rights to liberty, fair trial, and freedom of expression.

Together for Justice considers this development a dangerous escalation. It not only reflects the continued use of detention as a tool of repression, but also demonstrates the absence of judicial safeguards and accountability, particularly when sentences can be altered or extended without public process or legal justification.

Accordingly, Together for Justice calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Abdullah Al-Sayel, the annulment of the newly imposed sentence, full disclosure of the circumstances surrounding these proceedings, and accountability for the violations committed against him, in line with Saudi Arabia’s international obligations.