Extra Bio Info:

Mohammed al-Ghamdi is imprisoned for his religious freedom advocacy.  

In June 2022, security forces in Mecca arrested al-Ghamdi at his home. Prosecutors accused him of criticizing the government and calling for the release of religious prisoners of conscience, including Salman al-Ouda and Ali al-Omari, on Twitter, despite having fewer than 10 followers. 

In July 2023, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced al-Ghamdi to death for “describing the King or the Crown Prince in a way that undermines religion or justice" (Art. 30 Counterterrorism Law), "supporting a terrorist ideology" (Art. 34 Counterterrorism Law), “communicat[ing] with a terrorist entity” (Art. 43 Counterterrorism Law), and publishing false news “with the intention of executing a terrorist crime” (Art. 44 Counterterrorism Law). In September 2024, the Court overturned al-Ghamdi's death sentence and sentenced him to 30 years' imprisonment.

During detention, authorities placed him in solitary confinement for four months in al-Dhahban Prison near Jeddah, blocked communication with his family, and denied him access to a lawyer. They also denied him access to his prescription medications intended to treat his mental health conditions.

Al-Ghamdi's imprisonment may be an attempt at coercion by proxy. His brother, Saeed al-Ghamdi, is a religious scholar and a well-known dissident who received asylum in the United Kingdom following Saudi Arabia's 2017 crackdown on intellectuals and activists. He is also head of the SANAD Rights Foundation, which documents human rights abuses, including against religious prisoners of conscience. Mohammed and Saeed's brother, Assad al-Ghamdi, was also imprisoned in 2022 for "insulting religion."

Extra Bio Info:

Enver Krosh is detained for his alleged religious activity.

On August 11, 2022, authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine, detained several Crimean Tatars, including Krosh, after searching their homes. Investigators accused them of organizing and participating in a cell of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, possessing religious literature, and talking about religious topics and Russia's persecution of Muslims. Krosh was charged with "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC).

Related Cases: Vilen Temerianov, Edem Bekirov, Rinat Aliev, Seitiaha Abbozov

Extra Bio Info:

Vilen Temerianov is detained for his alleged religious activity.

On August 11, 2022, authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine, detained several Crimean Tatars, including Temerianov, after searching their homes. Investigators accused them of organizing and participating in a cell of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, possessing religious literature, and talking about religious topics and Russia's persecution of Muslims. Temerianov was charged with “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC).

Temerianov's health has reportedly deteriorated while detained.

Related Cases: Enver Krosh, Edem Bekirov, Rinat Aliev, Seitiaha Abbozov