Abdulaziz Al-Oudah Released After More Than Two and a Half Years Past His Official Sentence

The Saudi authorities have released Abdulaziz Al-Oudah, more than two and a half years after the official end of his sentence, which was supposed to conclude in March 2022.

Al-Oudah was arrested in September 2019 over tweets opposing normalization and was sentenced to five years in prison, with half of the sentence suspended. However, the authorities kept him in detention for over five years, well beyond his original sentence.

While Sanad Human Rights Organization congratulates Abdulaziz Al-Oudah and his family on his release, it stresses that this does not absolve Saudi authorities of responsibility for the violations he endured, including arbitrary detention. Sanad also emphasizes the necessity of compensating him for the damages he suffered due to his unlawful imprisonment.

Sanad renews its call for the release of all prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia and urges an end to systematic violations against activists, human rights defenders, and free thinkers. The organization demands that Saudi authorities uphold justice and human rights principles.