The Saudi authorities have yet to disclose the fate of economist Hamza Al-Salem, despite his enforced disappearance for almost 4 years.
Due to his criticism of the economic strategy supported by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), Al-Salem disappeared in November 2020 amid reports that he had been arrested by Saudi authorities.
With a doctorate from an American university, Al-Salem has a wealth of experience in the field of economics and was previously a professor at Prince Sultan University in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
Al-Salem’s arrest, according to Saudi human rights organizations, was due to his opinion on the Saudi Crown Prince’s so-called “2030 Economic Vision.” Al-Salem had offered some suggestions that would rectify the vision in a way that would benefit the people.
After criticizing MBS for making economic claims in late 2017, Al-Salem was banned from traveling.
Al-Salem has not been heard from since his disappearance, while activists and human rights organizations hold the Saudi authorities fully responsible for his life, demanding his release.
Al-Salem’s enforced disappearance for all these years because of his political and intellectual activities is a glaring example of how the Saudi government violates freedom of expression and human rights, as well as the challenging conditions that human rights defenders and activists may encounter in nations that impose restrictions on free speech.
Saudi Arabia’s ongoing political arrests necessitate highlighting everyone’s right to voice their thoughts and engage in public discourse without fear of retaliation or arrest, as well as the significance of any nation’s legal system upholding international humanitarian law and human rights principles, which ensure that people are protected from arbitrary detention, torture, and cruel or inhuman treatment.
