Eight Years of Arbitrary Detention for Saudi Journalist Tarad Al-Amri

These days mark the eighth anniversary of Saudi journalist Tarad Al-Amri’s detention, who remains behind bars since November 2016 without legal grounds or a fair trial. Saudi authorities have held Al-Amri in Al-Ha’ir Prison in Riyadh, depriving him of the right to legal representation, continuing a repressive approach toward critical voices and free expression.

Al-Amri, a writer for several local newspapers, published numerous articles criticizing Saudi government policies, particularly the Yemen war, leading the Ministry of Information to bar him from writing. Despite this, the Saudi authorities went further, detaining him.

After years in detention, Al-Amri has yet to face trial and now suffers from deteriorating health due to medical neglect. Authorities previously offered his release on the condition that he refrain from public appearances and discussing political matters, but Al-Amri refused, standing firm in his right to express his opinion.