Additional Name(s): عبدالله بصفر

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 12 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August//2020

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Abdullah Basfar

Extra Bio Info:

Abdullah Basfar is imprisoned for his religious activity and leadership.

In August 2020, authorities arrested Basfar, an imam, professor, well-known Qur’an reciter, and former Secretary-General of the Commission on Scientific Signs in the Quran and Sunnah. Basfar’s arrest came after an old video of him leading prayer in Turkey surfaced, following the deterioration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

In October 2022, Saudi authorities sentenced Basfar to 12 years' imprisonment.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): عمر المقبل

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 4 Years' Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 6 Months' Imprisonment

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Expression

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Omar al-Muqbil

Extra Bio Info:

Omar al-Muqbil is imprisoned for his religious expression and religious freedom advocacy.

In September 2019, authorities arrested al-Muqbil, a cleric, for a sermon criticizing concerts sponsored by the government’s General Entertainment Authority, calling them a threat to the country’s culture.

The Specialized Criminal Court initially sentenced al-Muqbil to 6 months' imprisonment, and in September 2021, the Supreme Court increased his sentence to 4 years' imprisonment.

Authorities refused to release al-Muqbil when his sentence ended in September 2023. 

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): عمر عبدالله السعدون

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: July//2021

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Expression

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Omar Abdullah al-Saadoun

Extra Bio Info:

Omar Abdullah al-Saadoun is detained for her religious freedom advocacy.

In July 2021, authorities arrested Omar Abdullah al-Saadoun, a cleric and legal advisor, after he wrote an article critical of the government’s decision to restrict the use of loudspeakers at mosques.

Publicly Available Information:
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