The Fifth Anniversary of the Arrest of Activist Amani Al-Zain in Saudi Arabia

May 2025 marks five years since the arbitrary arrest of Saudi activist Amani Al-Zain, who was detained in Jeddah in May 2020 after a video circulated showing her referring to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as “Abu Manshar” (Sawman).

Since her arrest, Al-Zain has been subjected to enforced disappearance, with no official information released regarding her place of detention, health condition, or legal status — raising grave concerns about her possible exposure to torture and ill-treatment in Saudi prisons.

This case is a stark example of the Saudi regime’s ongoing policy of silencing dissent and persecuting individuals for peaceful or satirical expression. Amani’s detention reflects an oppressive reality in which the judicial and security systems are weaponized to intimidate citizens and deter them from exercising their right to free speech.

Sanad Human Rights Organization affirms that what Amani Al-Zain is enduring constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law, which guarantees every individual the right to freedom of expression and protection against arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance.

Sanad calls on the Saudi authorities to:

Immediately and unconditionally release Amani Al-Zain.

Urgently disclose her place of detention and the conditions of her imprisonment.

Ensure her right to communicate with her family and lawyer.

Sanad also urges the international community, human rights organizations, and UN mechanisms to exert real and effective pressure on the Saudi government to end its ongoing repression of peaceful activists and opinion holders — particularly women, who often face disproportionate levels of abuse and violation.