Dec 2, 2021

USCIRF Releases New Factsheet on Saudi Arabia’s Specialized Criminal Court

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on Saudi Arabia’s Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) and its particular targeting of individuals who seek to exercise their freedom of religion or belief:

Saudi Arabia’s Specialized Criminal Court Factsheet - While originally created to clear a backlog of terrorism cases, the SCC now regularly tries members of religious minority groups and individuals who dissent peacefully from the Saudi government’s singular interpretation of Hanbali Sunni Islam. These individuals have been denied access to legal representation, held in prolonged detention, reportedly tortured into confessing, and given excessive sentences including the death penalty. The factsheet details several such cases, including that of Waleed Abu el-Khair, the lawyer of USCIRF religious prisoner of conscience Raif Badawi. The factsheet recommends that the Biden administration determine whether the court and its officials are subject to sanctions or visa bans as a result of these egregious religious freedom violations, and continue to advocate publicly for freedom of religion or belief in Saudi Arabia.

USCIRF recently discussed reforms to select polices impacting religious freedom in Saudi Arabia on an episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast. In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the State Department re-designate Saudi Arabia as a “Country of Particular Concern,” or CPC, for systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. In November 2021, the State Department re-designated Saudi Arabia as a CPC but issued a national security waiver exempting the country from 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].

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Malaysia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: November/30/2016

Current Status: Unknown

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Disappeared

Reason for Persecution: Proselytizing Activities Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Not Applicable

Ruth Sitepu

Extra Bio Info:

Ruth Sitepu was forcibly disappeared for her religious identity. 

On November 30, 2016, Sitepu and her husband, Joshua Hilmy, were disappeared at the hands of authorities or with their acquiescence. The U.S. Department of State indicated in its 2020 International Religious Freedom Report that Hilmy was targeted because of his conversion from Islam to Christianity. The couple was known for their ministry activities and outreach to Muslims.

On March 6, 2017, Sitepu and Hilmy's landlord filed a formal missing persons report. In July 2021, a government official testified that there are no government records of Sitepu and Hilmy leaving the country since their disappearance.

In November 2025, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) urged authorities to immediately reopen investigations into the disappearance of Sitepu and her husband.

Related Cases: Joshua Hilmy

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Malaysia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: November/30/2016

Current Status: Unknown

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Disappeared

Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Proselytizing Activities Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Not Applicable

Joshua Hilmy

Extra Bio Info:

Joshua Hilmy was forcibly disappeared for his religious belief and activity. 

On November 30, 2016, Hilmy, who is a pastor, and his wife, Ruth Sitepu, were disappeared at the hands of authorities or with their acquiescence. The U.S. Department of State indicated in its 2020 International Religious Freedom Report that Hilmy was targeted because of his conversion from Islam to Christianity.

On March 6, 2017, Hilmy and Sitepu's landlord filed a formal missing persons report. In July 2021, a government official testified that there are no government records of Hilmy and Sitepu leaving the country since their disappearance.

In November 2025, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) urged the authorities to immediately reopen investigations into the disappearance of Joshua Hilmy and his wife.

Related Cases: Ruth Sitepu

Publicly Available Information:
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