On the Sixth Anniversary of His Arrest, Mohammed Fadail Remains Detained in Saudi Arabia

These days mark the sixth anniversary of the arrest of Yemeni businessman Mohammed Fadail by Saudi authorities in June 2020. He remains imprisoned under an unjust 25-year sentence based on fabricated and politically motivated charges.

His arrest came as part of a campaign targeting residents and activists in the Kingdom, reportedly over his personal relationship with Turkish presidential adviser Yasin Aktay. He was also accused of contradictory affiliations, including alleged support for the Muslim Brotherhood, Hezbollah, Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, and al-Qaeda—claims that reveal the inconsistency and falsity of the accusations used to justify the unjust sentence.

During his detention, Mohammed Fadail was subjected to serious violations, including being beaten on the head and abdomen and kicked in the foot to extract confessions under coercion. He was forced to sign two statements under torture, held in solitary confinement for four months and twenty days, and denied contact with his family and children living in Turkey.

In a further violation of his right to defense, the Saudi court rejected his request to appoint his brother to represent him in cases before Turkish courts, causing him major financial losses in his investments there.

SANAD Human Rights Organization renews its call on Saudi authorities to immediately release Mohammed Fadail, end his suffering and that of his family, and provide fair compensation for the violations he has endured. SANAD also urges the international community and human rights institutions to continue pressing Saudi authorities to end politically motivated arrests and trials that fall far short of basic standards of justice, and to protect the rights of all arbitrarily detained individuals in the Kingdom.