Ahmad al-Shamri

Additional Name(s): أحمد الشامري

Gender: Male

Current Location: Al Qaisumah Detention Center

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Unspecified

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: Death

Date of Sentencing: February//2015

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Apostasy Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Other) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Expression about Religion Non-Belief Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Apostasy

Ahmad al-Shamri

Extra Bio Info:

Ahmad al-Shamri is imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy. 

In 2014, authorities arrested al-Shamri, who is from the town of Hafar al-Batin, and accused of using social media either to insult or renounce Islam and the Prophet Mohamed.  He was reportedly charged with apostasy. 

During his trial, al-Shamri pleaded insanity, citing mental illness and being under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he made the comments. 

In February 2015, a local court sentenced al-Shamri to death. 

In April 2017, the Supreme Court upheld al-Shamri's death sentence.