British man with 37 followers jailed for 10 years over single deleted tweet
Ahmed Al-Doush, a British national, has been put behind Saudi Arabian bars for 10 years over a social media post.
Initially arrested at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on 31 August 2024, this dad-of-four was on his way back home from a family holiday when security officers took him aside in front of his pregnant wife, Amaher Nour.
It took five months for Al-Doush to learn of his criminal charges: using social media platform X to spread fake and damaging news to his 37 followers, while engaging in a relationship with an individual threatening national security.
His family believe these accusations may refer to a 2018 tweet he published regarding Sudan, which he subsequently deleted, and a supposed connection to an outspoken critic of Saudi Arabia who he has no relationship with beyond knowing his son.
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The Mirror reports that Nour was informed of her husband's decade-long sentence straight after yesterday's (May 12) court hearing, although the lawyer could not reveal what his offence was.
Responding to the verdict, Amnesty International UK's chief executive Sacha Deshmukh said in a statement: "We strongly condemn this sentence and reiterate our urgent call on the Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ahmed Al-Doush, if he is being held solely for peacefully exercising his human rights. He must be allowed to return to his family in the UK without delay.
"In the meantime, Saudi authorities must uphold his fair trial rights, promptly share his court documents with him and guarantee regular access to both his family and legal counsel.
"We also urge the UK government to take all necessary steps to secure his immediate and unconditional release. The arbitrary detention of another British national abroad cannot be tolerated. Immediate and decisive action is essential."
Since his detainment, Amnesty claimed that Al-Doush faced 'multiple violations' of his fair trial rights, including being subjected to interrogations without a lawyer in the room.
For two months he wasn't allowed to contact his loved ones, who were given no details at all of his condition or the reasoning behind his arrest.
Things have improved slightly, with Al-Doush enjoying one phone call per week.
His wife recalled: "The authorities asked for his documents and we thought it was just a problem with his visa. He called me from security and told me to fly with the children on to Turkey, our transit stop, and said, 'I'll be with you shortly.'
"The night times are the hardest for me when I'm alone and it's quiet. I keep asking myself why, why, why has this happened, and I can't get to the bottom of it because it's not rational in any way. He has no political associations."
Topics: Prison, Saudi Arabia, World News, Crime
Dan Seddon