Extra Bio Info:

Israa al-Ghomgham is imprisoned for her religious identity and religious freedom advocacy.

In December 2015, Saudi authorities arrested al-Ghomgham, a well-known Shi'a activist, along with her husband for protesting the state's mistreatment of Shi'a citizens. Prosecutors charged her with “chanting slogans hostile to the regime,” “attempting to inflame public opinion,” “filming protests and publishing on social media,” and “providing moral support to rioters,” among others. 

In February 2021, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced al-Ghomgham to eight years' imprisonment followed by an eight-year travel ban. In October 2022, an appeals court increased al-Ghomgham's sentence to 13 years' imprisonment.

Saudi authorities mistreated al-Ghomgham and denied her access to legal counsel during detention, while prosecutors pushed for her execution during trial.

Extra Bio Info:

Ali al-Omari is detained for his religious activity and leadership role.

In September 2017, authorities arrested al-Omari, an Islamic scholar, talk-show personality, and chairman of TV channel 4Shbab, amid a wave of arrests targeting prominent religious figures, journalists, activists, and academics. Al-Omari's television channel was known to promote moderate religious values and discuss other religions. In September 2018, prosecutors charged al-Omari with 30 criminal offenses, including "forming a terrorist youth organization," and sought the death penalty.

During detention, Saudi authorities tortured al-Omari in order elicit a confession. Authorities also placed him in solitary confinement for fifteen months and denied him access to legal counsel for the first year of his detention.

Extra Bio Info:

Murtaja Qureiris was imprisoned for his religious identity and for protesting religious discrimination.

On September 20, 2014, authorities arrested Qureiris, who was 13 years old at the time, for participating in 2011 protests against Shi'a discrimination in the Eastern Province. He was 10 years old at the time of the protests. Following his arrest, he was reportedly held in solitary confinement for a month. He was also reportedly subjected to torture and forced to sign a confession.  He was also denied access to a lawyer or his parents as legal guardians. 

In January 2017, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released an opinion about the detention of an unnamed Saudi minor - later revealed to be Qureiris - and called for his release. 

In September 2018, after being held four years without facing trial, Qureiris appeared before the Specialized Criminal Court. He was charged with allegedly participating in anti-government protests, joining a terrorist organization, throwing Molotov cocktails at a police station, and opening fire on security forces under provisions of Royal Decree No. 44, the Law on Firearms and Ammunitions, and Royal Decree No. 38 on explosive materials. Prosecutors had been reportedly pushing for the death penalty.

On June 16, 2019, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced Qureiris to 12 years in prison. 

On February 12, 2020, the Specialized Criminal Court reduced his sentence to eight years in prison.

On May 11, 2020, seven UN special rapporteurs sent a letter to the Saudi government, highlighting the unjust nature of Qureiris's detention. 

On June 24, 2022, Qureiris was released from prison.