Seventh Anniversary of the Arrest of Human Rights Activist Mohammad Al-Otaibi

Today marks the seventh anniversary of the arrest of human rights activist Mohammad Al-Otaibi on May 24, 2017, at Hamad International Airport while he was attempting to travel to Norway. The Qatari authorities handed him over to the Saudi government, and he remains under arbitrary detention to this day.

Al-Otaibi is a human rights activist and one of the founders of the Union for Human Rights. He has actively campaigned for the release of prisoners of conscience and has participated in numerous seminars advocating for human rights. He has also signed several statements on this matter. He was previously arrested for participating in a sit-in against the war on Gaza in 2009.

The Specialized Criminal Court charged him with establishing an unlicensed association, inciting public opinion with the intention of causing chaos, interfering in public affairs, and traveling to Qatar. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, followed by a 14-year travel ban. After an appeal, his prison sentence was increased to 17 years.