Six Years Since the Arrest of Sarah and Omar Al-Jabri… SANAD Calls for Their Immediate Release

Today marks the sixth anniversary of the arrest of Sarah Al-Jabri and her brother Omar Al-Jabri on 16 March 2020, in what rights groups describe as a retaliatory measure against their father, former security official Saad Al-Jabri.

The arrest was carried out violently when Saudi security forces surrounded the family home in Riyadh with dozens of vehicles and plainclothes officers, stormed the house, confiscated devices and belongings, and took Sarah and Omar to an unknown location. They were forcibly disappeared for a long period before being transferred to Al-Malaz and Al-Ha’ir prisons.

During their detention, human rights reports documented a series of abuses, including denial of family contact, refusal to allow legal representation, psychological torture, and harsh treatment. Omar was reportedly forced under pressure to record video confessions, while Sarah endured long periods of isolation and psychological abuse.

In September 2020, the siblings appeared before the Criminal Court in a secret trial that lacked basic fair trial standards. Family members and independent observers were not allowed to attend, and both were denied the right to defend themselves. Sarah was sentenced to six and a half years in prison followed by a six-year travel ban, while Omar received a nine-year prison sentence followed by a nine-year travel ban.

SANAD Human Rights Organization renews its call for Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Sarah and Omar Al-Jabri, refrain from using them as tools of pressure against their father, end all abuses related to their detention, and guarantee their full legal and human rights.