Saudi Arabia Releases Dr. Badr Al-Mishari After More Than a Year and a Half of Arbitrary Detention

According to media and human rights sources, Saudi authorities released Dr. Badr Al-Mishari in January 2025 after detaining him arbitrarily since July 2023.

Dr. Al-Mishari, aged 51, had previously served as the imam of the Hittin Mosque in the National Guard before dedicating himself fully to religious preaching. His sermons and lectures had gained widespread attention. Despite not engaging in any political activities, he was arrested as part of the ongoing crackdown on free expression and the detention of individuals for their opinions without any legal justification.

SANAD Human Rights Organization congratulates Dr. Al-Mishari and his family on his release, but it emphasizes that this step does not absolve the authorities of their responsibility for his unjust detention. The organization reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience and for an end to repressive practices targeting activists and independent thinkers.