Journalist Maha Al-Rafidi’s Sentence Ended on 28 September Without Release

On 28 September 2025, Saudi journalist Maha Al-Rafidi completed her six-year prison sentence, yet Saudi authorities continue to hold her arbitrarily.

Al-Rafidi was arrested on 28 September 2019 for peacefully expressing her views on social media, defending prisoners of conscience, and rejecting normalization policies. Since her arrest, she has faced severe abuses, including a raid on her home, confiscation of her devices, four months of enforced disappearance and solitary confinement, as well as reports of torture and ill-treatment.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Saudi authorities are currently detaining at least 19 journalists, highlighting the sharp decline in press freedom in the Kingdom. This is reflected in Saudi Arabia’s poor ranking of 162 out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index.

The continued detention of Al-Rafidi beyond her completed sentence underscores the arbitrary nature of her imprisonment and the ongoing repression of journalists and human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia.

SANAD Human Rights Organization calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Maha Al-Rafidi and all prisoners of conscience, and urges the international community to step up pressure on Saudi authorities to end these violations and safeguard fundamental freedoms.