Rapper Omar Shebooba Released After Three Years in Prison Over His Revolutionary Songs

According to human rights and media sources, Saudi authorities released rapper Omar Shebooba in mid-March, after three years of arbitrary detention due to his revolutionary music, known for its bold criticism of corruption.

Shebooba was arrested in March 2022 following an online smear campaign by pro-government accounts accusing him of “incitement” and “insulting the homeland” because of his politically charged lyrics.

The Sanad Human Rights Organization congratulates Omar Shebooba, his family, and friends on his regained freedom, while emphasizing that his release is a right—not a favor. Sanad renews its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, artists, journalists, and free voices in Saudi Arabia, and urges an end to the systematic repression targeting creatives and opinion holders.