Despite UN Calls for Their Release… Aida Al-Ghamdi and Her Son Adel Mark Eight Years in Prison

These days mark the eighth anniversary of the arrest of Aida Al-Ghamdi (67) and her son Adel Al-Ghamdi, detained in March 2018 over contact with a relative abroad and receiving limited financial support.

They were arrested in Dammam without a warrant and taken to an unknown location. Their sentences were later increased to 16 years for Aida and 14 years for Adel, which they are currently serving.

During detention, both were subjected to severe abuse, including beatings, psychological and physical torture, being tortured in front of each other, and having cigarettes extinguished on their bodies.

A UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that their detention is arbitrary and violates multiple provisions of international human rights law, citing lack of due process, enforced disappearance, denial of legal counsel, and unfair trial conditions.

Despite UN calls for their release, they remain detained.

WGAD decision regarding Aida Al-Ghamdi and her son Adel Al-Ghamdi

SANAD Human Rights Organization renews its call for their immediate and unconditional release, compensation, and an end to ongoing violations against prisoners of conscience.