Mohammed Al-Otaibi… Nine years of detention for defending human rights

Today, May 24, 2026, marks nine years since the arrest of Saudi human rights activist Mohammed Al-Otaibi, who was detained by Qatari authorities at Hamad International Airport in 2017 while attempting to travel to Norway, before being forcibly extradited to Riyadh, where he remains imprisoned to this day.

Al-Otaibi is considered one of the most prominent human rights figures in Saudi Arabia and a co-founder of the Union for Human Rights. He was widely known for his advocacy calling for the release of prisoners of conscience and for participating in human rights seminars and statements. He was first arrested in 2009 after taking part in a protest in solidarity with Gaza.

In 2017, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced him to 14 years in prison followed by a similar travel ban on charges including founding an unlicensed organization, inciting public opinion, interfering in public affairs, and traveling to Qatar. The sentence was later increased on appeal to 17 years.

SANAD Human Rights Organization renewed its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Al-Otaibi and all prisoners of conscience in the Kingdom, urging the international community, human rights organizations, and UN special rapporteurs to intensify pressure on Saudi authorities to end the ongoing violations against activists and human rights defenders.