Saudi Arabia continues to detain Egyptian activist Gamal Masry since 2020 over peaceful activism

Saudi authorities continue to arbitrarily detain Gamal Abdullah Masry, a 54-year-old Egyptian Nubian activist who has lived in the Kingdom for many years. He is currently held in Abha Prison in the Asir region, serving a sentence of more than 10 years for his peaceful participation in organizing a cultural event to commemorate the October 1973 War in Riyadh.

On 14 July 2020, State Security forces raided his home, arresting him arbitrarily and subjecting him to enforced disappearance before he was brought before the Specialized Criminal Court, which on 10 October 2022 sentenced him to over 10 years in prison on vague charges such as “spreading false rumors,” “establishing an unlicensed association,” and “supporting a terrorist group.”

His arrest came as part of a wider crackdown in which ten Egyptian Nubians were detained ahead of the planned peaceful event at the Nubian Community Association in Riyadh — all of whom remain in detention to this day.

According to human rights sources, Masry was subjected to numerous violations, including arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, denial of family contact and visits, and deprivation of legal counsel.

SANAD Human Rights Organization affirms that the continued detention of Gamal Abdullah Masry for his peaceful community activism constitutes a grave violation of freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. SANAD calls on Saudi authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally, along with all those detained for peacefully expressing their views.