The Saudi judiciary issues a 30-year prison sentence against retired teacher Mohamed Al-Ghamdi after the death penalty was overturned

SANAD Human Rights Organization has obtained important information confirming that the Saudi judiciary has issued a 30-year prison sentence against retired teacher Mohamed Nasser Al-Ghamdi, following the cancellation of his death sentence in August 2024 due to international pressure.

It is worth noting that Saudi authorities arrested Al-Ghamdi in July 2022 over tweets he posted through an anonymous account on the platform X, where he had fewer than ten followers. In July 2023, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced him to death, but this ruling was overturned in August without his release.

In the same context, the Court of Appeal held a session in early September, only to adjourn it for two months after it began, citing the need for more time to review a report on criminal responsibility. This move raised significant concern, as the case revolves around social media posts and does not involve any criminal act warranting a report on criminal responsibility, further fueling suspicions of judicial manipulation and confusion in handling the case.

The Court of Appeal issued a ruling that overturned the death penalty and sentenced Al-Ghamdi to 30 years in prison. While there is relief over the cancellation of the death sentence, as Al-Ghamdi is no longer at risk of death for exercising his right to free expression, the confirmation of a 30-year prison sentence remains a grave violation of his fundamental rights. It directly contradicts the decision of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which condemned Al-Ghamdi’s arrest, deemed it arbitrary and a crime against humanity, and called for his immediate release and compensation. This arbitrary, long-term sentencing by the Saudi authorities shows that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not complying with the United Nations’ decision, which gave the authorities a six-month deadline for implementation.

SANAD Human Rights Organization emphasizes that the Saudi government must respect the decision of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and immediately release Mohamed Al-Ghamdi, rather than sentencing him to 30 years in prison.