More than 3,000 Days Spent by Thinker Ibrahim Al-Sakran Behind Bars

Ibrahim Al-Sakran, one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent scholars and intellectuals, has spent over 3,000 days in Saudi prisons since his arbitrary arrest in June 2016. His detention came in response to tweets in which he expressed his opinions about certain government decisions. Despite his sentence ending in 2021, Al-Sakran remains imprisoned, in a blatant violation of human rights.

The Specialized Criminal Court had sentenced him to five years in prison based on fabricated and politically motivated charges, such as undermining national security and destabilizing society—common practices of the Saudi authorities to frame and falsely accuse those who express views contrary to the government’s stance. In May 2020, Al-Sakran was briefly released, only to be rearrested a month later.

It is worth noting that Al-Sakran holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the Higher Institute of Judiciary, as well as a Master’s in International Commercial Law from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom. He has also authored numerous books and published various research papers.

Sanad Human Rights Organization condemns the continued detention of thinker Ibrahim Al-Sakran beyond the completion of his sentence, considering it a gross violation of human rights and a clear disregard for Saudi Arabia’s commitments to international conventions on freedom of expression. Sanad calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Al-Sakran and all other prisoners of conscience. The organization also urges the international community and human rights groups to maintain pressure to end the Saudi authorities’ policy of arbitrary detention and to hold those responsible for these violations accountable, ensuring the protection of human rights and the achievement of justice.