Amnesty International: Saudi Authorities Detain Yemeni-Dutch Citizen Fahd Ramadan Without Legal Representation

Amnesty International reported that Saudi authorities arbitrarily detained Yemeni-Dutch citizen Fahd Azy Mohammed Ramadan on November 20, 2023, following his arrival from the Netherlands to Saudi Arabia. According to Amnesty, Ramadan was held from November 23 until January 1, 2024, without legal representation during his detention and interrogation.

Ramadan informed Dutch embassy officials in Riyadh that his detention might be due to his online expression of sympathy for a critic of the Saudi royal family, suggesting his detention was related to his peaceful online activities, as reported by Amnesty International.

In an earlier statement to AFP, Abdullah Ramadan, Fahd’s 19-year-old son, expressed the family’s hardship due to the detention, saying, “The situation is very difficult; I am responsible for my siblings and my mother, who does not speak Dutch.” Abdullah explained that his father, a diabetic, had traveled to Saudi Arabia to complete paperwork for obtaining Dutch citizenship and that the alleged messages criticizing the Saudi Crown Prince were fabricated by someone else. Abdullah added that his father calls home once a week, describing harsh detention conditions that have worsened his diabetic symptoms.

Sanad Human Rights Organization calls on Saudi authorities to release Fahd Ramadan immediately and urges the international community and human rights organizations to pressure Saudi authorities to ensure his immediate release and guarantee his legal and human rights.