Fifth Anniversary of Dr. Rashid Al-Alma’i’s Arrest Over Attending a Licensed Intellectual Seminar
These days mark the fifth anniversary of the arrest of Dr. Rashid bin Hassan Al-Alma’i, a professor of creed and contemporary ideologies at King Khalid University in Abha. Saudi authorities arrested him on July 8, 2021, over his attendance at a licensed intellectual seminar held nine years earlier, as well as his possession of a religious jurisprudence book unrelated to any prohibited activity.
Dr. Rashid was arrested for attending a seminar titled *“Freedom Between Slogan and Reality,”* presented by Dr. Saud Al-Funaisan at the home of Dr. Awad Al-Qarni. Authorities also cited his possession of *From the Guidance of Islam: Contemporary Fatwas*, a traditional jurisprudence book that had never been officially banned and whose author had previously received the King Faisal International Prize.
Although the seminar was licensed at the time, and there was no evidence that Dr. Rashid had any organizational role or even spoke during the event, he was charged with “supporting terrorist ideology,” “concealing those who hold it,” and “meeting with individuals seeking to destabilize state security.”
During his trial, Dr. Rashid stated that he did not know the identities of the attendees, had no prior knowledge of the seminar’s content or participants, and was not given an opportunity to express an opinion or engage in the discussion.
The judgment also relied on his possession of the book. He explained that he had purchased it after learning that its author was visiting Saudi Arabia to receive a prestigious award. He stressed that merely owning a book does not prove endorsement of its contents, particularly as the book contained no material inciting violence or terrorism.
Despite serious flaws in the case, as well as medical reports confirming that Dr. Rashid suffers from a chronic neurological condition and that his health has deteriorated in prison, the court repeatedly rejected his requests for temporary release or suspension of the sentence.
He was sentenced to nine years in prison, followed by a nine-year travel ban, under provisions of the counterterrorism law.
On the fifth anniversary of his arrest, SANAD Human Rights Organization renews its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Rashid Al-Alma’i and condemns his continued arbitrary detention amid worsening health and the absence of genuine legal evidence justifying his imprisonment.
