Additional Name(s): Murtaja bin Abdallah bin Ali Qureiris, مرتجى لقريريص

Gender: Male

Current Location: Mabaheth Prison, Damman

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: Reduced to 8 Years' Imprisonment (Originally 12 Years' Imprisonment)

Date of Detainment: September/20/2014

Date of Sentencing: February/12/2020

Date of Release: June/24/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Children’s Rights Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Identity

Nature of Charges: Arms Trafficking & Illicit Use of Weapons Illegal Assembly Terrorism

Murtaja Qureiris

Extra Bio Info:

Murtaja Qureiris was imprisoned for his religious identity and for protesting religious discrimination.

On September 20, 2014, authorities arrested Qureiris, who was 13 years old at the time, for participating in 2011 protests against Shi'a discrimination in the Eastern Province. He was 10 years old at the time of the protests. Following his arrest, he was reportedly held in solitary confinement for a month. He was also reportedly subjected to torture and forced to sign a confession.  He was also denied access to a lawyer or his parents as legal guardians. 

In January 2017, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released an opinion about the detention of an unnamed Saudi minor - later revealed to be Qureiris - and called for his release. 

In September 2018, after being held four years without facing trial, Qureiris appeared before the Specialized Criminal Court. He was charged with allegedly participating in anti-government protests, joining a terrorist organization, throwing Molotov cocktails at a police station, and opening fire on security forces under provisions of Royal Decree No. 44, the Law on Firearms and Ammunitions, and Royal Decree No. 38 on explosive materials. Prosecutors had been reportedly pushing for the death penalty.

On June 16, 2019, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced Qureiris to 12 years in prison. 

On February 12, 2020, the Specialized Criminal Court reduced his sentence to eight years in prison.

On May 11, 2020, seven UN special rapporteurs sent a letter to the Saudi government, highlighting the unjust nature of Qureiris's detention. 

On June 24, 2022, Qureiris was released from prison.

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