URGENT Action : Save Elderly Detainees in Saudi Prisons Before It’s Too Late
Amid escalating human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, the nation has been shaken by the tragic death of retired Dr. Qasim Al-Qathrdi in the General Investigations Prison (State Security) in Abha. In his 70s, Dr. Al-Qathrdi died under mysterious circumstances, with a complete lack of transparency. Saudi prison authorities have not issued any official statement regarding the circumstances of his death.
Dr. Al-Qathrdi was arrested on July 8, 2021, as part of a campaign targeting intellectuals in Abha. His arrest stemmed from his participation in a state-authorized intellectual gathering held nine years earlier and for possessing two books: So That There May Be No Discord by former minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi, and Existentialism, a book used in Saudi university curricula. Despite these being publicly available materials, he was sentenced to eight years in prison and an additional eight-year travel ban, based on vague charges such as “disrupting public order”—charges he categorically denied.
According to court documents obtained by Sanad, Dr. Al-Qathrdi requested temporary release during his trial due to his advanced age and deteriorating health, offering to pay bail. The judge rejected the request, directly contributing to his prolonged suffering and eventual death inside prison, as a result of deliberate medical neglect.
This is not an isolated incident. Dr. Abdullah Al-Hamid, Dr. Musa Al-Qarni, Dr. Ahmed Al-Amari, and others have previously died under similar circumstances in Saudi prisons. The death of Dr. Al-Qathrdi once again exposes the systematic policy of medical neglect and disregard for elderly detainees, many of whom are arbitrarily imprisoned without due process or fair trials.
SANAD Human Rights Organization urgently calls for:
•A transparent and independent investigation into the death of Dr. Qasim Al-Qathrdi and accountability for those responsible for the neglect and abuse he suffered.
•The immediate release of all elderly detainees, especially those held without charges or who have completed their sentences.
•Immediate medical care and humane treatment for all prisoners, in line with international human rights standards.
•An end to the use of arbitrary detention to silence peaceful expression and dissent.
Dr. Al-Qathrdi’s death must be a wake-up call—a turning point demanding swift and united action to prevent further tragedies.
We call on the international community, human rights organizations, journalists, and activists to amplify this campaign and stand in solidarity with elderly prisoners at risk in Saudi Arabia.
