Despite Deteriorating Health, Saudi Authorities Continue to Detain Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Abdullatif for Nine Years
Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Abdullatif has completed nine years behind bars in Saudi prisons since his arrest in September 2017, as part of a widespread crackdown targeting dozens of academics, Islamic preachers, and activists over their peaceful views and positions. Saudi authorities continue to detain him despite his advanced age and deteriorating health.
Al-Abdullatif, who is over 66 years old, faces serious health concerns due to chronic illnesses that threaten his life. Nevertheless, Saudi authorities insist on keeping him in detention, disregarding his fundamental rights and international standards concerning the protection of elderly and seriously ill prisoners.
The authorities brought several politically motivated charges against him, including “disobeying the ruler,” “financing terrorism,” and “sympathizing with the Muslim Brotherhood.” SANAD Human Rights Organization considers these charges part of the misuse of laws and legislation to criminalize freedom of opinion and expression and persecute individuals holding independent views.
Since his arrest, Al-Abdullatif has faced serious human rights violations, including the intimidation of his family during the raid on his home and his arrest, enforced disappearance, denial of access to a lawyer and contact with his family, and a secret trial that lacked fundamental fair-trial guarantees.
He was initially sentenced to five years in prison. However, after completing his sentence, authorities retried him and subsequently imposed a harsher 20-year prison sentence.
SANAD Human Rights Organization stresses that the continued detention of Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Abdullatif, after nine years of deprivation of liberty, constitutes a serious violation of his fundamental rights, particularly given his advanced age and chronic illnesses requiring appropriate medical care.
SANAD renews its call for his immediate and unconditional release and holds Saudi authorities fully responsible for his physical and psychological well-being, as well as any further deterioration in his health.
