Saudi Arabia continues its repression of journalists, ranking 166th in the global Press Freedom Index for 2024

According to Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index, Saudi Arabia is among the lowest-ranked countries globally, holding position 166 out of 180 countries assessed in 2024. 

The kingdom ranked 170th in 2023 and 166th in 2022, reflecting its ongoing repressive practices aimed at silencing dissenting voices and stifling press freedom. Numerous journalists, such as Osama Sahli, Malik Ahmad, Mohammad Sadik, Sami Al-Thubaiti, Wajdi Al-Ghazzawi, and many others, have been incarcerated for many years.

In a related context, the violations extend beyond journalists. Saudi Arabia also punishes its citizens for their views on social media platforms, imposing severe sentences, including death or long-term imprisonment, for simple tweets. This has been the fate of individuals like teacher Mohammad Al-Ghamdi, Noura Al-Qahtani, Salma Al-Shehab, and many other detainees.