Additional Name(s): عمر عبدالله السعدون
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia
Ethnic Group: Arab
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: July//2021
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Expression
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Omar Abdullah al-Saadoun
Extra Bio Info:
Omar Abdullah al-Saadoun is detained for her religious freedom advocacy.
In July 2021, authorities arrested Omar Abdullah al-Saadoun, a cleric and legal advisor, after he wrote an article critical of the government’s decision to restrict the use of loudspeakers at mosques.
Publicly Available Information:
- 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saudi Arabia U.S. Department of State
- “Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed seeks to reduce influential clerics’ power” Washington Post
- “Security services clamp down on the freedom of speech” Sanad
- Prisoners of Conscience, Tweet, July 30, 2021
- منظمة سند الحقوقية, Tweet, July 18, 2021
Additional Name(s): أسماء السبيعي
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia
Ethnic Group: Arab
Religion or Belief: Unspecified
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: June//2021
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Online Activity Resisting State-Imposed Religious Systems Women’s Rights
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Asmaa al-Subaie
Extra Bio Info:
Asmaa al-Subaie is detained for her women’s rights activism critical of state-imposed religious systems.
In June 2021, authorities affiliated with the Presidency of State Security arrested al-Subaie, a university student, over tweets she made criticizing the harsh sentences against those calling for changes to the guardianship system and other laws affecting women.
In June 2022, al-Subaie appeared in a reportedly forced interview on state-run television promoting Saudi government policies from Al-Ha’ir, the political prison in Riyadh.
In April 2025, authorities reportedly released al-Subaie.
Publicly Available Information:
- "More activists released while others languish in prison" Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)
- معتقلي الرأي, Tweet, June 2, 2022
- USCIRF Annual Report 2022: Saudi Arabia
- “Saudi Arabia: Authorities continue systematically targeting influential citizens, human rights defenders, journalists and Internet activists” Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)
Jun 15, 2022
USCIRF Welcomes President Joe Biden’s Appointment of Stephen Schneck to U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
Washington, DC – President Joseph R. Biden announced on June 15, 2022 the appointment of Stephen Schneck to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
USCIRF welcomes Stephen Schneck to the Commission and looks forward to the valuable insight that his years of expertise will bring. USCIRF also expresses sincere gratitude to outgoing Commissioner Khizr Khan for his advocacy on behalf of those persecuted for their religion or belief.
A political philosopher by training, Stephen Schneck retired from The Catholic University of America in 2018, after more than thirty years as a professor, department chair, and dean. At the university he was also the founder and long-time director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies. He received his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame.
A well-known advocate for Catholic social justice teachings in public life, Schneck currently serves on the governing boards of both Catholic Climate Covenant and Catholic Mobilizing Network. His writings appear regularly in the religious media, and he is a frequent commentator on Catholic matters for national and international news services. Previously, he was the executive director of Franciscan Action Network, which promotes environmental, economic, racial, and social justice on behalf of the Franciscan communities of the United States. He served the administration of President Barack Obama as a member of the White House Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and leadership of both political parties in the Senate and House of Representatives.
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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].