Dr. Abdulmohsen Al-Ahmad, a Saudi specialist in respiratory diseases, has reached a grim milestone, as he enters his seventh year of imprisonment in Saudi Arabia for expressing his opinions.
Back in September 2017, Al-Ahmad was apprehended when Saudi authorities forcibly entered his residence, taking him into custody without disclosing any reasons for his arrest.
Human rights observers speculate that Al-Ahmad’s detention is connected to a video he released, which was perceived as criticism of Saudi government policies. He has been accused of yielding to external pressures and attempting to undermine Saudi values.
Al-Ahmad is just one among many who were swept up in the notorious September 2017 arrest campaign, the largest wave of arrests Saudi Arabia has seen in recent history.
This campaign included preachers, academics, and prominent figures like Dr. Salman Al-Ouda, Dr. Awad Al-Qarni, Mecca’s Grand Mosque Imam Saleh Al-Taleb, and Dr. Safar Al-Hawali. It also targeted intellectuals, economists, journalists, and human rights activists.
Saudi authorities maintain secrecy regarding the conditions of numerous detainees, while reports of deteriorating health, torture, and ill-treatment continue to surface.
This prolonged detention of Al-Ahmad serves as a stark example of Saudi authorities’ disregard for human rights and freedom of expression, highlighting the challenges faced by activists and advocates for human rights in countries with restricted freedoms.
The international community and human rights organizations must persist in their efforts to secure the release of political detainees, end arbitrary arrests, and ensure respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.
