On the Fifth Anniversary of His Arrest… The Continued Enforced Disappearance of Dr. Osama Al-Hasani

These days mark the fifth anniversary of the arrest of academic and Saudi-Australian citizen Dr. Osama Al-Hasani, who was detained on 8 February 2021 and has remained forcibly disappeared in Saudi Arabia ever since, with no information disclosed about his fate or place of detention to date.

The case dates back to early 2021, when Dr. Al-Hasani traveled to Tangier, Morocco, to meet his Moroccan wife and their newborn child. On 8 February 2021, Moroccan authorities arrested him in response to a request issued by Saudi authorities through Interpol. He was subsequently extradited to Saudi Arabia on 13 March 2021.

Since his transfer, all communication has ceased, aside from reports indicating that he was sentenced to four years in prison. No official information has been provided regarding his legal or health status, raising serious concerns about his physical and psychological safety. His continued disappearance constitutes a grave violation of international law prohibiting arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance.

In this context, SANAD Human Rights Organization renews its call on the Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Osama Al-Hasani, disclose his fate and place of detention, end the policy of enforced disappearance against him, and provide fair compensation for the serious violations he has endured. The organization also calls for the release of all prisoners of conscience arbitrarily detained in Saudi prisons.