Despite Recent Releases… Human Rights Watch: Repression Continues in Saudi Arabia, and Arbitrary Restrictions Undermine Any Reform
Human Rights Watch reported that Saudi authorities released 44 detainees between December 2024 and February 2025. These individuals were imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their rights, including human rights defender Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani, PhD student Salma Al-Shehab, and Asaad Al-Ghamdi, brother of UK-based opposition figure Saeed bin Nasser Al-Ghamdi.
However, in its latest report, the organization emphasized that this move does not reflect a fundamental change in the kingdom’s repressive policies. Human rights violations remain rampant, and arbitrary arrests continue against peaceful activists and the relatives of dissidents abroad.
Joey Shea, Saudi researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated:
“The release of dozens of prisoners is a positive step, but the Saudi government must release all those it arbitrarily detains. This gesture is not a substitute for ending the kingdom’s repressive policies.”
The report noted that many released individuals remain subjected to arbitrary restrictions such as travel bans and electronic surveillance, while others are still behind bars — including Islamic scholar Salman Al-Ouda, human rights lawyer Waleed Abu Al-Khair, activist Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan, and Manahel Al-Otaibi, who was forcibly disappeared for months, along with another brother of Saeed Al-Ghamdi.
The report also highlighted the case of British citizen Ahmed Al-Doush, who was arrested at Riyadh airport in late August 2024 and detained for months without formal charges, due to old posts on the platform X.
Despite a public statement from State Security Chief Abdulaziz Al-Huwairini inviting exiled dissidents to return with no consequences, Human Rights Watch stressed that continued arrests and prosecutions for peaceful expression undermine any claims of openness or reform.
A separate report by Sanad Rights Organization revealed that many recently released prisoners of conscience are still under severe post-release restrictions, including:
Travel bans for both the individuals and their families
Mandatory pledges not to engage in public discourse, whether via media or social platforms
Prohibition on hosting visitors or attending even family gatherings
Strict electronic monitoring using ankle tracking devices
Ongoing threats of re-arrest for violating imposed conditions or speaking about past abuses
In some cases, financial restrictions were also imposed — such as bank withdrawal limits (e.g., not exceeding 40,000 SAR) and daily caps on account usage.
Human Rights Watch and Sanad agree: While the recent releases are welcome, they fall far short of real reform. The broader system of repression remains firmly intact, and true justice demands the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained individuals and the abolition of all retaliatory restrictions.
