Dr. Awad Al-Qarni: Nine Years in Solitary Confinement Since His Arrest
Today marks the ninth anniversary of the arrest of Dr. Awad Al-Qarni on 9 September 2017. He has been held in solitary confinement at Dhahban Prison in Jeddah since his arrest, amid a continued deterioration in his health.
Dr. Awad Al-Qarni is 68 years old and has spent nine years in prison. The Public Prosecution is seeking the death penalty against him over charges related to tweets and activity on social media platforms. His last known court hearing took place in 2020, nearly six years ago.
On 1 September 2023, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion concerning his case, concluding that his deprivation of liberty constitutes arbitrary detention and violates Articles 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Working Group classified his detention under Categories I, II, III, and V of arbitrary detention and called on Saudi authorities to release him immediately, provide him with compensation and other forms of reparation, and conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances of his arrest and detention.
Three years after the UN opinion was issued, Dr. Awad Al-Qarni remains detained, with the Working Group’s recommendation for his release still unimplemented. His solitary confinement continues, alongside ongoing reports of his deteriorating health.
SANAD Human Rights Organization calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Awad Al-Qarni, an end to his solitary confinement, the dismissal of charges related to his exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the implementation of the recommendations contained in the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s opinion concerning his case.
