One Year Since the Execution of Journalist Turki Al-Jasser Amid Ongoing Repression and Politically Motivated Executions
A full year has passed since the execution of Saudi journalist Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Jasser on June 14, 2025, following more than seven years of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance after his arrest on March 15, 2018, over tweets allegedly linked to an anonymous account on X.
Saudi authorities arrested Al-Jasser on March 15, 2018, when State Security forces raided his home without presenting a legal warrant and detained him because of his peaceful expression of opinion. He was believed to be behind the X account “Kashkool,” through which he discussed public affairs and peacefully criticized government policies and human rights violations.
Throughout his prolonged detention, Al-Jasser was reportedly subjected to various forms of physical and psychological torture and ill-treatment in an attempt to extract confessions and force him to admit to charges unsupported by credible legal evidence. He was also held in extended isolation and denied the fundamental safeguards guaranteed to detainees under international law.
When announcing his execution, the Saudi Ministry of Interior stated that Al-Jasser had been convicted of charges including “high treason,” “communication with foreign entities,” and “financing terrorism.” However, such accusations are among the broad and vague charges frequently used by Saudi authorities against journalists, activists, and human rights defenders to criminalize peaceful activity and free expression under the guise of security and law enforcement.
One year after this execution, Saudi authorities continue to pursue a policy of executions, including cases widely viewed as politically motivated. The government also continues to target dissidents, activists, and independent voices through a legal and security system that criminalizes freedom of expression and treats peaceful calls for reform as serious crimes punishable by the harshest penalties, including death.
