Sixth Anniversary of Abdulnasser Abu Taqiqa Al-Huwaiti’s Arrest: SANAD Renews Calls for His Release and That of His Son

These days mark the sixth anniversary of the arrest of Abdulnasser Abu Taqiqa Al-Huwaiti, a prominent figure from the Huwaitat tribe, who was detained by Saudi authorities on 18 October 2020 over his opposition to the forced displacement policies targeting members of the tribe as a result of the NEOM project.

Abdulnasser’s arrest came just days after his son, Ahmed Al-Huwaiti, was arrested on the campus of Prince Fahd bin Sultan University, following a siege of the university by Saudi intelligence forces. Earlier, his brother Abdulrahim Al-Huwaiti had been shot dead by State Security forces after refusing to leave his home by force.

According to information documented by human rights organizations, emergency and intelligence forces arrested Abdulnasser while he was on his way to Duba Hospital. He was then transferred to the intelligence detention facility in Tabuk, where he remained for one month before being moved to Dhahban Prison in Jeddah.

During his detention, he was subjected to severe psychological and physical torture and held in solitary confinement for four months in an attempt to force him to confess to fabricated charges, including “inciting public opinion” and “terrorism.”

Nine months after his arrest, his trial began before the Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh, which handed down an arbitrary 27-year prison sentence. This was part of a series of unjust sentences imposed on members of the Huwaitat tribe, including his son Ahmed Al-Huwaiti, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

SANAD Human Rights Organization renews its call on Saudi authorities to release Abdulnasser Al-Huwaiti, his son Ahmed Al-Huwaiti, and all detained members of the Huwaitat tribe, and to provide them with fair and appropriate compensation. SANAD also calls for the release of all prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia.