Death of Dr. Qasim Al-Qathardi in Sha’ar Prison – Sanad Organization Holds Crown Prince Responsible

Today, Sanad Human Rights Organization received with deep sorrow the news of the death of Dr. Qasim bin Ahmad bin Abdullah Al-Qathardi, a retired professor from King Khalid University in Abha, inside his detention cell at Sha’ar Prison in the Asir region.

Dr. Al-Qathardi had been arrested on July 8, 2021, as part of a campaign targeting a group of intellectuals in Abha, due to his participation in a licensed intellectual gathering and possession of two publicly available books: So That There May Be No Discord by Ghazi Al-Qusaibi, and Existentialism, a book taught in Saudi universities. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, followed by an eight-year travel ban, based on vague charges of “supporting extremist ideology” and “disturbing public order”—charges he firmly denied during his trial.

Sanad Human Rights Organization extends its heartfelt condolences to Dr. Al-Qathardi’s family, loved ones, colleagues, and students, and it holds the Saudi authorities—especially Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—fully responsible for his death in prison. Sanad strongly condemns the arbitrary detention and the unfair trial he endured.

Sanad also reminds that Dr. Al-Qathardi’s death adds to a tragic list of deaths inside Saudi prisons, including the deaths of prominent rights advocates such as Dr. Abdullah Al-Hamid, Dr. Musa Al-Qarni, and others among prisoners of conscience.