Continued Detention of Egyptian Nubian Activist Saleh Gomaa Ahmed for Over Five Years

Saudi authorities continue to detain Egyptian Nubian activist Saleh Gomaa Ahmed, more than five years after his arrest, over his peaceful civil activism in Riyadh.

Saleh Gomaa was arrested on July 14, 2020, after his home was raided by Saudi intelligence agents, following his organization of a peaceful event commemorating the October War. He faced fabricated charges, including “spreading false rumors” and “establishing an unlicensed association.”

After his arrest, he was forcibly disappeared for a long period and denied communication with his family and lawyer. In October 2022, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced him to 12 years in prison, before the sentence was reduced to six years in September 2025.

Saleh Gomaa is among ten Egyptian detainees of Nubian origin arrested by Saudi authorities in July 2020 for organizing a peaceful cultural event. The Specialized Criminal Court imposed harsh sentences ranging between 10 and 18 years, later reduced for some, while all remain detained despite the peaceful nature of their activities.

SANAD Human Rights Organization condemns the ongoing arbitrary detention of civil activists in Saudi Arabia and calls on the authorities to immediately release Saleh Gomaa Ahmed and restore his fundamental legal rights.