Ali al-Omari

Additional Name(s): Ali Hamza Al Omari, علي حمزة العمري

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: September/9/2017

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Terrorism

Ali al-Omari

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.

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