Dec 28, 2022

USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom in Saudi Arabia

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following report:

Saudi Arabia Country Update – This report assesses religious freedom conditions in Saudi Arabia in 2022. The ongoing power shifts from the Saudi religious establishment to the ruling family has created some opportunities for reforms to guardianship laws, textbooks, and social policies impacting religious freedom. However, the trend of retrying prisoners and sentencing others to decades in prison for peaceful religious dissent is an alarming development that undermines the Saudi narrative of reform. This report discusses these sentences, provides information on conditions for religious minorities, and recommends U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia as it relates to promoting freedom of religion or belief.

In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. State Department redesignate Saudi Arabia as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its ongoing violations of religious freedom, and lift the national security waiver releasing the administration from taking otherwise
legislatively mandated action as a result of the designation.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected]. 

Additional Name(s): Khalid bin Muhammad bin Hamad Al Rashed, خالد الراشد

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 40 Years' Imprisonment (Originally Increased to 15 Years' Imprisonment, Increased by 8 Years, Increased by 17 Years)

Sentence: Originally 5 Years' Imprisonment

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Association Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Khaled Al-Rashed

Extra Bio Info:

Khaled Al-Rashed is imprisoned for his religious expression and association.

In March 2006, Saudi authorities arrested Al-Rashed, a cleric, for his membership in the Movement of Reformers group and criticism of governement policies.

On an unspecified date, judicial authorities initially sentenced Al-Rashed to five years' imprisonment. In 2009, authorities increased his sentence to 15 years' imprisonment. When his sentence ended, authorities refused to release him. In February 2022, an appeals court increased his sentence to 23 years' imprisonment. In November 2022, an appeals court increased Al-Rashed's sentence to 40 years' imprisonment.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): عبدالمجيد الأركاني

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Increased to 10 Years' Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 5 Years' Imprisonment

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

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

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Abdul Majeed Al-Arkani

Extra Bio Info:

Abdul Majeed Al-Arkani is imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.

In 2020, authorities arrested Al-Arkani, an imam, for being friendly with a prominent Turkish figure, Yasin Aktay, during a Muslim World League conference. At the time, Saudi Arabia and Turkey were in diplomatic conflict.

Authorities Al-Arkani was reportedly severely beaten during interrogations.  He was also reportedly held in prolonged solitary confinement at Shaar Prison in Abha. 

In October 2022, as his two-year and six-month prison sentence neared completion, an appeals court increased his sentence to 10 years' imprisonment.

Publicly Available Information:
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