Seven Years of Repression: The Seventh Anniversary of the Arrest of Dr. Safar Al-Hawali and His Sons
This week marks the seventh anniversary of the arrest of Dr. Safar Al-Hawali and his sons Abdullah, Abdulrahman, and Abdulrahim, along with his brother Saadallah Al-Hawali and his office manager Dr. Ismail Al-Hassan, who were detained in July 2018.
Dr. Safar was arrested following a brutal raid on his home, triggered by a draft book he had written in which he criticized the political situation in Saudi Arabia and offered advice to society, scholars, and the ruling family. During the arrest, his daughter suffered a psychological shock so severe that she lost her ability to speak, due to the violent nature of the raid carried out by security agents who banged on the doors forcefully and stormed the house the moment it was opened.
In 2019, Saudi authorities released Dr. Safar’s youngest son, Ibrahim, after seven months of detention without charge, following guarantees from senior members of the Al-Hawali family to present him upon request. During his detention, Ibrahim was denied any contact with his family.
In September 2022, SANAD Human Rights Organization obtained information confirming that Dr. Safar’s sons were subjected to severe psychological torture, including restrictions on family visits and communication. They were also placed in cells with criminals and extremists, exposing them to physical harm. SANAD sources further confirmed that the authorities denied them access to medications, while other human rights sources reported that the sons had also endured physical torture.
The violations did not stop at arrest and torture. The Court of Appeals later increased the sentences of Dr. Safar’s sons:
Abdulrahman’s sentence was raised from 7 to 17 years,
Abdullah’s from 6 to 16 years,
Abdulrahim’s from 6 to 15 years.
In response to these unjust and excessive rulings, the three brothers announced a hunger strike in January 2023, demanding the cancellation of their sentences.
The crackdown extended to Saadallah Al-Hawali, whose sentence was increased from 4 to 14 years, and Dr. Ismail Al-Hassan, whose sentence was raised from 10 to 12 years.
In May 2024, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities issued a decision concerning Dr. Safar Al-Hawali’s case, concluding that his detention without trial constituted torture, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearance, and violated his right to health and access to justice—amounting to a full breach of fundamental human rights.
Similarly, in April 2023, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion classifying Dr. Al-Hawali’s detention as arbitrary, falling under categories I, II, III, and V. The experts stated that his arrest was due solely to his peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression and participation in public affairs, in clear violation of Articles 7, 19, and 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The group called on the Saudi authorities to release him immediately.
SANAD Human Rights Organization calls on the Saudi government to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Safar Al-Hawali, his sons, his brother, and his office manager. SANAD also urges human rights organizations and international institutions to continue putting pressure on the Saudi authorities until all members of the Al-Hawali family are freed.
