SANAD has issued a letter to the Saudi Minister of Justice condemning the execution of journalist Turki Al-Jasser: Stop State Killings
London – 19 June 2025
Sanad Human Rights Organization today sent an open letter to Saudi Minister of Justice Dr. Walid Al-Samaani, in which it expressed its strong condemnation of the execution of Saudi journalist Turki Abdulaziz Al-Jasser. The organization described this development as “a dangerous precedent that threatens the integrity of the justice system in the Kingdom and constitutes a blatant violation of the right to life and the freedoms of opinion and expression.”
In its message, Sanad stated that “reports about the enforcement of this unjust sentence have shocked both local and international public opinion and provoked widespread outrage among human rights communities,” pointing out that the ruling was issued solely for peaceful expression of opinion through digital platforms, in clear violation of international laws and Islamic principles.
Sanad accused the Saudi judiciary of “lacking independence and being subject to the control of government and security agencies,” and highlighted “the direct intervention of the Saudi Crown Prince in the course of judicial rulings.” The organization held the Ministry of Justice politically, legally, and morally responsible for these violations, given its role in managing the justice system and overseeing court proceedings.
The letter noted that the sentence against Al-Jasser was issued in the complete absence of fair trial guarantees, amid “a climate of secrecy, enforced disappearance, and torture,” with a lack of transparency in judicial procedures. The organization asserted that this case “is not an isolated ruling but one that undermines the credibility of the entire judicial system.”
Sanad further stressed that carrying out death sentences in cases related to freedom of expression “can never be justified under any pretext,” and called on the Ministry of Justice to adopt “a clear and transparent stance,” reveal the details of the case and the legal procedures that led to the ruling, and conduct an independent and impartial investigation into this and other rulings linked to freedom of opinion.
Sanad concluded its letter by renewing its call for “a comprehensive review of the justice system in Saudi Arabia to guarantee its independence and integrity, and to protect it from political and security exploitation,” and demanded an immediate halt to any executions carried out on the basis of opinion-related cases.
Full text of the letter:
Dr. Walid Al-Samaani
Minister of Justice
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
We write to you with grave concern and strong condemnation regarding the widely circulated reports of the execution of Saudi journalist Turki Abdulaziz Al-Jasser. These reports have shocked public opinion and provoked widespread outrage in human rights and humanitarian circles both within the Kingdom and internationally.
The issuance of such a sentence—allegedly based on peaceful expression of opinion through digital means—constitutes a blatant violation of the most basic principles of justice and a clear breach of the right to life and the freedom of opinion and expression. These are rights protected under international law and the very principles of justice upon which Islamic jurisprudence is built. This alarming development places the Saudi justice system under historical and moral scrutiny, especially amid persistent accusations of a lack of judicial independence and the dominance of the executive and security apparatus over legal proceedings.
While we are aware of the extent to which the Saudi government—particularly the Crown Prince—intervenes in judicial verdicts, we nevertheless hold your Ministry, as the authority responsible for overseeing the justice system and court procedures, directly accountable for this egregious judgment. It is widely believed that the sentence was issued amid the complete absence of fair trial guarantees, under circumstances involving enforced disappearance, torture, and the denial of the right to defense and public trial. This case is not an isolated incident, but rather a reflection of a broader crisis affecting the credibility of the entire judicial system, highlighting a deeply troubling absence of separation of powers. Instead of serving justice, the judiciary appears to have been weaponized as a tool of repression.
The issuance and silent execution of a death sentence in matters related to freedom of expression—without transparency or accountability—can never be justified. It sets a dangerous precedent and reaffirms that the justice system in the Kingdom still lacks independence and fails to uphold the human rights standards that should underpin any fair trial. The persistence of such violations undermines the Kingdom’s claimed legal and judicial reforms and tarnishes its image in the international community.
We demand a clear and transparent stance from your Ministry regarding this case, and a full disclosure of the procedures followed and the legal basis, if any, upon which this sentence was issued. We further call for an independent and impartial investigation into the details of this case and others linked to freedom of expression, as well as an immediate halt to any executions related to opinion-based offenses.
We strongly denounce this grave violation, and we hold you, as Minister of Justice, politically, legally, and morally accountable for what has occurred. We urge a comprehensive review of the justice system to ensure its independence and integrity, free from political or security interference, and to guarantee that those who exercise their right to free expression are not punished with imprisonment—or death.
