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Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Youbi
Academic
detainee
Date of Birth
1378هـ – 1958م
City Of Birth
AL Madinah AL Munawwarah
Gender
Male
Nationality
Saudi
Education
He holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Essex in the UK.
About The Detainee
A Saudi academic who served as the president of King Abdulaziz University until his arrest, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, achieving summa cum laude, from King Abdulaziz University in 1401 AH (1981 AD). He earned his Master's degree from King Abdulaziz University in 1403 AH (1983 AD). Subsequently, he was sent on a scholarship to the United Kingdom, where he received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Essex in 1407 AH (1986 AD).
Arrest And Human Rights Violations
Date Of Arrest:
2022-07-15
City Of Internment:
Riyadh
Reason
Due to a personal disagreement with a member of the university staff, he was maliciously accused and subsequently arrested. Following his arrest, and because of his close relationship with a high-ranking official—whose name is withheld—who was asked by the Al-Youbi family to intercede with King Salman to expedite their father's release, especially after his acquittal. When Mohammed bin Salman became aware of this attempt to reach his father, he disapproved of the action, subsequently fabricating a charge against him for embezzling half a billion Saudi Riyals, which was then publicized in the media and supported by orchestrated social media campaigns against him.
Method
Practices And Violations
Despite being exonerated from the charges against him—after the Saudi authorities called in an external accountant to seek evidence for the allegation that Dr. Al-Youbi embezzled half a billion Saudi Riyals—the thorough examination of data and information, which took along time, led the external accountant to definitively refute any suspicions of corruption or embezzlement linked to Dr. Al-Youbi. This conclusion, however, did not align with the preferences of the Crown Prince, who ordered the continuation of Dr. Al-Youbi's detention and further restrictions on him.
This arbitrary arrest was accompanied by a vicious smear campaign and baseless accusations.
The Human Dimension In His Detention
Prison
One of the Riyadh villas personally overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Trial and legal proceedings
He has not been tried as of yet.
Arrested