Six Years Since the Arrest of Dr. Abdullah Basfar Over Leading Prayers at Hagia Sophia

These days mark the sixth anniversary of the arrest of Dr. Abdullah Basfar, who was detained by the Saudi authorities in August 2020 after accepting an invitation to lead prayers at the courtyard of Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul.

On 12 October 2022, the Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh sentenced him to 12 years in prison following a secret trial during which he was denied the right to legal representation, in violation of fair trial guarantees.

Born in Jeddah in 1961, Dr. Basfar is a prominent Saudi academic and Islamic scholar. He earned his PhD from Umm Al-Qura University, served as an associate professor at King Abdulaziz University, and was the imam and preacher of Mansour Al-Shuaibi Mosque in Jeddah before his arrest.

SANAD Human Rights Organization affirms that Dr. Basfar’s continued detention lacks any legal basis and reflects the ongoing targeting of peaceful religious figures. The organization renews its call for his immediate and unconditional release and for ensuring all his fundamental rights in accordance with international human rights standards.