ALQST has learned that the Saudi authorities have sentenced lawyer and activist Mut‘ib bin Zafir al-Amri to seven years in prison for his peaceful media work and human rights activism. Al-Amri, who has been detained in Dhahban Prison since 2018, was subjected to severe physical and psychological torture of various kinds, including beatings and electric shocks.

Al-Amri was sentenced by the Specialised Criminal Court (SCC) to seven years in prison on charges of “inflaming public opinion, and criticising the symbols of the state” because of criticisms and calls for reform he posted on the Twitter account @Future_review. He was also found guilty of communicating with foreign parties considered “hostile” by the court, in a reference to human rights organisations like ALQST, and activists abroad such as ALQST’s founder, Yahya Assiri. When the court treats contacts with such people and groups as “communication with hostile foreign parties”, the Saudi judiciary is clearly criminalising all lawful civic activities.

ALQST's Executive Director Nabhan al-Hanshi commented: "Rulings such as this demonstrate  clearly that the Saudi authorities are determined to punish anyone who expresses their opinions freely. Anyone who does speak out faces the risk of arbitrary arrest, severe torture and a harsh, unjust prison sentence, as in the case of Mut‘ib al-Amri."

ALQST urges the Saudi authorities to respect and protect freedom of opinion and expression, and to immediately and unconditionally release Mut‘ib al-Amri and quash the spurious charges against him.