Eight Years of Detention: Economist Essam Al-Zamel Begins His Ninth Year Behind Bars

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the arrest of Saudi economist Essam Al-Zamel, who now enters his ninth year in prison since his detention on 12 September 2017 upon returning from an international economic conference in the United States. Al-Zamel was arrested over his economic views and criticisms of government policies.

In October 2020, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison, based on tweets expressing his opinions and criticizing economic policies, alongside vague charges such as “communicating with a Qatari figure,” “belonging to a banned group,” and “tarnishing the state’s reputation.” During his detention, he faced serious violations, including prolonged solitary confinement, a travel ban on his family, media defamation, and denial of a fair trial.

Al-Zamel is widely recognized for his academic and professional achievements. He received prestigious awards, including the Prince Salman Youth Businessmen Award in 2009 and the State Alumni Award for Achievement in 2014, and was listed by Forbes among the most influential Saudi figures.

Sanad Human Rights Organization stresses that the continued detention of Dr. Essam Al-Zamel since 2017 constitutes a blatant violation of his fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and the right to family contact. Sanad calls on Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him and ensure fair compensation upon his release.