Ignoring UN Experts’ Decision: Saudi Arabia Continues to Detain Teacher Mohammed Al-Ghamdi

Saudi authorities continue to detain retired teacher Mohammed Nasser Al-Ghamdi, despite the revocation of his death sentence, which was previously issued over five tweets posted from an anonymous X (formerly Twitter) account followed by fewer than ten people. In September 2024, the Specialized Criminal Court issued a replacement sentence of 30 years in prison, a severe and arbitrary ruling that remains as egregious as a death sentence and constitutes a grave violation of his fundamental rights.

Al-Ghamdi was arrested in June 2022 due to tweets, and in July 2023, he was sentenced to death. Although Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed embarrassment in a Fox News interview over a death sentence being issued merely for tweets, authorities delayed allowing Al-Ghamdi to appeal the ruling for an extended period.

Despite the eventual revocation of the death penalty under international pressure, the new 30-year sentence blatantly disregards the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) decision, which declared Al-Ghamdi’s detention arbitrary and in violation of Articles 3, 9, 10, 11, and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. WGAD called for his immediate release and appropriate compensation.

SANAD Human Rights Organisation has also received verified reports that Al-Ghamdi has endured several violations, including medical neglect that led to a serious health episode and a broken tooth, as well as denial of due process, with a court appointed lawyer and insufficient time to prepare a defense.

SANAD strongly affirms that Al-Ghamdi’s continued imprisonment despite the overturned death sentence and in defiance of a UN ruling—is yet another indicator of Saudi Arabia’s politicized judiciary and the lack of judicial independence, especially within the Specialized Criminal Court, widely criticized as a tool for suppressing free expression.

The organization holds Saudi authorities fully responsible for any deterioration in Al-Ghamdi’s health, calls for his immediate and unconditional release, demands access for international observers, and insists on accountability for all involved in his abuse.