The Saudi authorities refuse to release Dhayfullah Al-Sarihi despite his total paralysis.

For the 16th consecutive year, the Saudi authorities continue to detain Dhayfullah Al-Sarihi, due to opinions he expressed in 2008, demanding improved living conditions for the Saudi people.

Despite the completion of his 7-year sentence, the Saudi authorities refuse to release him.

In February 2019, Dhayfullah Al-Sarihi became completely paralyzed due to severe and continuous torture in prison. He also suffered psychological torture and was put in solitary confinement multiple times and was completely denied the right to appoint a lawyer for his defense.

In 2019, the authorities bargained with Al-Sarihi’s family for his release in exchange for signing commitments not to speak about what he endured in prison, not to release any pictures of him, and not to demand any financial compensation.

SANAD Organisation for Human Rights laments the dire state of human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. It also calls on all human rights organizations and workers in the human rights field to increase pressure on the Saudi authorities to compel them to release Al-Sarihi immediately and unconditionally, and to compensate him appropriately for the severe violations he suffered in prison.