Additional Name(s): Hamdullah Veli

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Uyghur

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: November//2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Aimidoula Waili

Extra Bio Info:

Aimidoula Waili was detained for his ethnoreligious identity.

In November 2020, Saudi Arabian authorities arrested Waili, a Uyghur Muslim and religious scholar, following an extradition request from the Chinese government after Waili had entered Saudi Arabia to go on pilgrimage. In March 2022, authorities transferred Waili to Riyadh, possibly signalling imminent deportation to China.

In April 2025, Waili was released.

Waili was previously arrested, imprisoned, and tortured in China.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Sulaiman Al Dowaish, سليمان الدويش

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: April/22/2016

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Disappeared

Reason for Persecution: Religious Expression

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Sulaiman al-Dowaish

Extra Bio Info:

Sulaiman al-Dowaish was forcibly disappeared for his religious expression.

In April 2016, al-Dowaish, a religious scholar, was forcibly disappeared after posting tweets summarizing a religious lecture that authorities perceived to be critical of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Two months after his arrest, al-Dowaish’s name appeared on the Ministry of Interior’s online database of detainees, confirming his presence in state custody. The last known sighting of al-Dowaish was in July 2018.

Authorities tortured al-Dowaish during his detention and arrested his three sons for inquiring about his disappearance.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Lina al-Sharif, لينا الشريف, Lina al-Shareef

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: May//2021

Date of Release: November//2025

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Online Activity Women’s Rights

Nature of Charges: Terrorism

Lina Alsharif

Extra Bio Info:

Lina Alsharif was detained in relation to religious freedom advocacy.

In May 2021, officials from the Saudi Presidency of State Security raided Alsharif’s home in Riyadh, arrested her, and forcibly disappeared her for two months reportedly in relation to her social media activity, which included discussing Saudi politics as well as advocating for human rights, including women’s rights, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and freedom for prisoners of conscience.

On September 21, 2021, authorities responded to a request for information from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, confirming that Alsharif was being detained under Articles 2 and 19 of the Law on Combating Terrorism Crimes and its Financing.

In May 2025, Saudi authorities released Alsharif from prison. 

Publicly Available Information:
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