Saudi Arabia Set to Issue Verdict Against British Detainee Ahmed Al-Doush in April – Sanad Calls for Immediate Release
The legal defense team of British financial analyst Ahmed Al-Doush, who is detained in Saudi Arabia, has revealed that Saudi authorities are expected to issue a verdict in his case next April. The case is believed to be prosecuted under counterterrorism and cybercrime laws, based on a deleted social media post and an alleged connection to a Saudi dissident living in the UK.
Al-Doush, 41, has been held in Saudi custody since August 2024, after he was arrested at Riyadh airport while preparing to return to the United Kingdom with his family following a short family visit. According to his lawyers, the trial has lacked transparency, with no case documents shared with the legal team, and no formal charges issued until months after his detention.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Sanad Human Rights Organization, have expressed deep concern over Al-Doush’s continued arbitrary detention, calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
Al-Doush’s legal representative in the UK, Heidi Deikstal, noted that the trial is being conducted by the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC), which is widely known for its use as a tool of repression against peaceful dissent. She added that the charges against her client include an alleged link to Saudi dissident Dr. Saad Al-Faqih, although Al-Doush has never met him, according to the defense team.
In its first official comment, the UK Foreign Office told the Financial Times:
“We are supporting a British national detained in Saudi Arabia and are in contact with both the family and local authorities regarding the case.”
This statement comes amid growing calls from Al-Doush’s family and legal team for stronger intervention by the British government to protect his rights and hold Saudi authorities accountable.
In this context, Sanad Human Rights Organization strongly condemns the continued detention and prosecution of Ahmed Al-Doush under vague laws used to criminalize freedom of expression and social ties. The organization stresses that the case represents a blatant violation of basic legal and human rights standards.
Sanad urges the Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ahmed Al-Doush, and to end all forms of arbitrary prosecutions targeting individuals based on their opinions or alleged associations.
Sanad also calls on the UK government to take a clearer and more effective stance in defending its detained citizen and ensuring his safety and legal rights.
These developments come amid increasing human rights criticism of the Saudi regime, which continues its crackdown on activists and dissidents, despite its promotional campaigns around Vision 2030 and supposed economic and tourism reforms.
