Saudi human rights organisations confirmed that the country’s Court of Appeal increased the prison sentence against a number of academic prisoners of conscience.
The decisions was issued against Dr. Ali Badahdah, whose sentence was increased from six to nine years,Dr. Adel Banama, from four to six years old, Dr. Mohamed Musa Al-Sherif, from five to 13 years old, and Dr. Yousef Al-Ahmad, from four to 13 years old.
Meanwhile, The Saudi authorities continue to delay the release of preacher Khaled Al-Rashed, despite finishing his sentence more than a year ago.
Information was leaked from Al-Hayer prison in Riyadh, confirming that the prison administration handed over Al-Rashed to the General Investigations on November 26, without disclosing the reason for his transfer.
Saudi human rights sources said that the administration of Al-Hayer prison confirmed that Al- Rashed’s health condition is unstable, and he cannot be transferred or investigated as it poses a danger to his life, however the detectives insisted on his transfer.
Since Prince Mohammed bin Salman assumed the mandate of the Covenant in Saudi Arabia on April 29, 2015, prominent advocates and activists in the country, including Salman Al-Awda, Awad Al-Qarni and Ali Al-Omari, have been arrested and detained on charges of “terrorism and conspiracy against the state”, despite multiple demands by international and non-governmental human rights organisations, public figures and activists to release them; However, the Saudi authorities ignored these demands, and referred them to unfair trials, in which the Public Prosecution demanded the death penalty be imposed on them.
