Mohammad bin Hassan al-Habib

Additional Name(s): محمد بن حسن الحبيب

Gender: Male

Current Location: Mabahith Prison, Dammam

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment + 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July/8/2016

Date of Sentencing: August/26/2019

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Civil Rights Work for Religious Communities Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Online Activity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Identity

Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Terrorism Treason & Sedition

Mohammad bin Hassan al-Habib

Extra Bio Info:

Mohammad bin Hassan al-Habib is imprisoned for his religious expression, leadership role, and religious freedom advocacy.

In July 2016, authorities detained al-Habib, a Shi'a cleric, as he tried to cross the Khafji Border Crossing into Kuwait. Authorities placed him in solitary confinement in Mabahith Prison in Dammam, held him incommunicado for four months, and denied him access to a lawyer. They charged him with violating a pledge he was forced to sign in 2012, which prohibited him from delivering sermons the government deemed objectionable—such as condemning religious hatred toward Shi'a Muslims and calling on the government to end sectarianism.

In July 2017, the Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment for "sectarianism" and "calling people to sedition" under Royal Decree No. 44. In April 2018, authorities charged al-Habib with additional crimes, including “endeavoring to shake the societal fabric and national unity by supporting protests inciting riots in Al-Qatif Governorate,” “attempting to leave Saudi Arabia for Kuwait irregularly,” and “violating the Anti-Cybercrime Law.” One charge stemmed from a photograph of an executed Shi'a cleric found on an electronic device seized during a police raid of al-Habib's home in July 2016. In August 2019, authorities at the Specialized Criminal Court increased his sentence to 12 years' imprisonment, followed by a five-year travel ban for violating Article 6 of the Anti-Cybercrime Law.

Authorities tortured al-Habib in detention. They also mistreated him by repeatedly placing him in solitary confinement and denying him proper medical care, which has exacerbated his neurological and kidney ailments and put him at a severe risk of stroke.

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