After Seven Years of Detention… Muteb Al-Omari’s Sentence Has Ended, and SANAD Calls for His Immediate Release

Lawyer Muteb Dhafer Al-Omari has completed seven full years in prison since his arrest in 2018, meaning he has now fully served the entirety of his seven-year sentence, and Saudi authorities are obligated to release him immediately.

Saudi authorities arrested Al-Omari over tweets he posted on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle “Future Readings,” in which he expressed his views on the future of Saudi Arabia.

Information obtained by SANAD Human Rights Organization indicates that Al-Omari suffered serious violations during his detention, including beatings, torture by electric shocks, and being denied contact with his family. He was also held for two years without any trial.

In early 2022, the Saudi Court of Appeals issued a ruling sentencing Al-Omari to seven years in prison, and given the date of his arrest, he has now completed that sentence in full.

SANAD emphasizes that Al-Omari’s continued detention beyond the completion of his sentence is a clear violation of Saudi law, in addition to the fact that his initial arrest was arbitrary and based on charges related to freedom of expression. SANAD calls on Saudi authorities to release him immediately, ensure his safety, and grant him his full rights without delay.