human rights defender
Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan
Actions and Campaigns
Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
Organization affiliation
- Saudi Red Crescent Society
HRD's year of birth
1981
HRD's Gender
Man
Type of HRD
- Journalist/Blogger
HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
HRD's geographical origin
Urban
Current Status
In prison (sentenced)
HRD's bio and work
Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan was born to a Saudi family and raised in California. In 2013, he graduated from Notre Dame De Namur University in California with a degree in Business Administration. After earning his degree, he returned to the Saudi kingdom in late 2014 and worked as a humanitarian aid worker at the Saudi Red Crescent Society in Riyadh. Al-Sadhan was also active online on Twitter, where he posted political satire and shared peaceful opinions on public affairs. He criticized gross human rights violations such as the bombing of Yemen civilians as well as addressing the economic challenges, poverty and unemployment in the kingdom.
Detained since
Mar 12, 2018
Charge(s)
- Creating disturbances
- Spreading fake news
Sentence
20 YEARS
Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
Abdulrahman was subjected to arbitrary arrest, torture, and forced disappearance. Upon arrest, authorities did not allow him to call his family or inform them of his detention. He was held incommunicado, detained without charge, and refused access to a lawyer. According to witnesses, he was severely tortured, including with electric shocks, beating, breaking his bones, sexual assault and threats of murder. During trial, there was no lawyer, or any other attendees from diplomats or journalists. His whereabouts are unknown.
Recent case update / evolution
On 05 April 2021, the Specialised Criminal Court (SCC) in Riyadh sentenced Al-Sadhan to 20 years in prison, followed by a 20-year travel ban after his release. The charges are related to his peaceful activities on Twitter which he used to post tweets that were expressing his views on citizens’ public affairs. On 5 October 2021, the Court of Appeal in Riyadh upheld the sentence passed on al-Sadhan. According to what was last reported by his sister, woman human rights defender Areej Al-Sadhan, “Saudi officials continue to deny him calls and visits, we can’t even check on his wellbeing. We’re worried about his safety, as the torture and mistreatment have left visible marks and greatly affected his health.” In November 2022, Al-Sadhan’s family filed a complaint before the Saudi court about the violations to Al-Sadhan’s rights as a prisoner. In May 2023, Al-Sadhan’s sister filed a lawsuit in U.S. courts against Twitter and a senior Saudi official, alleging that Twitter has become a tool in a transnational repression campaign by Saudi authorities.
Attachments
Documented by
- Country(ies) of nationality
- HRD's year of birth
- 1981
- HRD's Gender
- Man
- Type of HRD
- Journalist/Blogger
- HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
- Organization affiliation
- Saudi Red Crescent Society
- HRD's Picture
- HRD's bio and work
Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan was born to a Saudi family and raised in California. In 2013, he graduated from Notre Dame De Namur University in California with a degree in Business Administration. After earning his degree, he returned to the Saudi kingdom in late 2014 and worked as a humanitarian aid worker at the Saudi Red Crescent Society in Riyadh. Al-Sadhan was also active online on Twitter, where he posted political satire and shared peaceful opinions on public affairs. He criticized gross human rights violations such as the bombing of Yemen civilians as well as addressing the economic challenges, poverty and unemployment in the kingdom.
- HRD's geographical origin
- Urban
- Country or area of detention
- Region of detention
- Western Asia
- Location of detention - Facility
- Whereabouts unknown
- Detained since
- Mar 12, 2018
- Current Status
- In prison (sentenced)
- Charge(s)
- Creating disturbances
- Spreading fake news
- Sentence
20 YEARS
- Recent case update / evolution
On 05 April 2021, the Specialised Criminal Court (SCC) in Riyadh sentenced Al-Sadhan to 20 years in prison, followed by a 20-year travel ban after his release. The charges are related to his peaceful activities on Twitter which he used to post tweets that were expressing his views on citizens’ public affairs. On 5 October 2021, the Court of Appeal in Riyadh upheld the sentence passed on al-Sadhan. According to what was last reported by his sister, woman human rights defender Areej Al-Sadhan, “Saudi officials continue to deny him calls and visits, we can’t even check on his wellbeing. We’re worried about his safety, as the torture and mistreatment have left visible marks and greatly affected his health.” In November 2022, Al-Sadhan’s family filed a complaint before the Saudi court about the violations to Al-Sadhan’s rights as a prisoner. In May 2023, Al-Sadhan’s sister filed a lawsuit in U.S. courts against Twitter and a senior Saudi official, alleging that Twitter has become a tool in a transnational repression campaign by Saudi authorities.
- Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
Abdulrahman was subjected to arbitrary arrest, torture, and forced disappearance. Upon arrest, authorities did not allow him to call his family or inform them of his detention. He was held incommunicado, detained without charge, and refused access to a lawyer. According to witnesses, he was severely tortured, including with electric shocks, beating, breaking his bones, sexual assault and threats of murder. During trial, there was no lawyer, or any other attendees from diplomats or journalists. His whereabouts are unknown.
- Protection actions and campaigns
- Documented by
- Consent status
- Consent to register, store and publish the information
sorted by
Date added
7 relationships, 6 entities