Additional Name(s): إسراء الغمغام

Gender: Female

Current Location: General Intelligence Prison, Dhamam

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Increased to 13 Years' Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 8 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: December/6/2015

Date of Sentencing: February/10/2021

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Online Activity Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Identity

Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Terrorism

Israa al-Ghomgham

Extra Bio Info:

Israa al-Ghomgham is imprisoned for her religious identity and protesting religious discrimination.

On December 6, 2015, al-Ghomgham, a well-known Shi'a activist, was arrested alongside her husband, Moussa al-Hashim, after they participated in 2015 protests against the state's treatment of Shi'a citizens.  Al-Ghomgham was reportedly denied access to a lawyer during the early stages of her detention.  The Gulf Centre for Human Rights says that al-Ghomgham made allegations of mistreatment during this same time.

On August 6, 2018, al-Ghomgham's trial reportedly began in front of the Specialized Criminal Court.  According to Human Rights Watch, she was charged with several criminal offenses, including “participating in protests in the Qatif region,” “incitement to protest,” “chanting slogans hostile to the regime,” “attempting to inflame public opinion,” “filming protests and publishing on social media,” and “providing moral support to rioters.”  Prosecutors reportedly pushed for al-Ghomgham's execution.

On October 12, 2018, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called for al-Ghomgham's release, saying that the charges against her "appear to lack legal bases" and that she has "had no legal representation during her trial."  It also expressed concerns that al-Ghomgham's prosecution is "motivated by the fact that she belongs to Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority."

On February 10, 2021, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced al-Ghomgham to eight years in prison followed by an eight year travel ban.

In October 2022, it was reported that an appeals court increased al-Ghomgham's sentence by five years, making it 13 years in prison. 

Related Cases: Mousa al-Hashim, Mujtaba al-Muzain, Ali al-Ouwaisher, Khaled al-Ghanim, Ahmed al-Matrood

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