Additional Name(s): علي بادحدح

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Increased to 9 Years' Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 6 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: September/12/2017

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Humanitarian Work & Charitable Activities Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Ali Badahdah

Extra Bio Info:

Ali Badahdah is imprisoned in relation to his religious belief and activity.

On September 12, 2017, security forces arrested Badahdah, an imam and professor of Hadith at King Abdul Aziz University, after raiding his home in Jeddah. His arrest came amid a crackdown of clerics, academics, intellectuals, human rights activists, and women’s rights activists.  Two days before his arrest, Badahdah retweeted a quote by medieval Islamic scholar Ibn Taymiyyah.

In October 2020, it was reported that the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced Badahdah to six years in prison. The Prisoners of Conscience Twitter account alleges that Badahdah’s arrest was related to his participation in charity activities. Badahdah had founded charitable societies in Jeddah.

In December 2021, it was reported that an appeals court increased Badahdah’s sentence from six years to nine years in prison.

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