Additional Name(s): عمر المقبل
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia
Ethnic Group: Arab
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Increased to 4 Years' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 6 Months' Imprisonment
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Expression
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Omar al-Muqbil is imprisoned for expressing religious views criticizing government policies.
In September 2019, it was reported that authorities had arrested al-Muqbil, a cleric, for criticizing concerts sponsored by the government’s General Entertainment Authority, calling them a threat to the country’s culture.
In September 2021, it was reported that the Supreme Court had increased al-Muqbil’s sentence to four years in prison after the Specialized Criminal Court had sentenced him to six months in prison.
In November 2023, the Sanad Rights Foundation reported that al-Muqbil continues to be held in prison, despite completing his sentence in September 2023.
"Continued detention of Dr. Omar Al-Muqbil for more than 4 years." Sanad Rights Foundation
2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saudi Arabia U.S. Department of State
معتقلي الرأي, Tweet, November 2, 2021
معتقلي الرأي, Tweet, September 21, 2021
Prisoners of Conscience, Tweet, September 10, 2019
Additional Name(s): عمر عبدالله السعدون
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia
Ethnic Group: Arab
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: July//2021
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Expression
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Omar Abdullah al-Saadoun is detained for criticizing government policy impacting religious freedom conditions.
In July 2021, it was reported that authorities reportedly arrested Omar Abdullah al-Saadoun, a cleric and legal advisor, after he wrote an article critical of the government’s decision to restrict the use of loudspeakers at mosques.
2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saudi Arabia U.S. Department of State
“Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed seeks to reduce influential clerics’ power” Washington Post
“Security services clamp down on the freedom of speech” Sanad
Prisoners of Conscience, Tweet, July 30, 2021
منظمة سند الحقوقية, Tweet, July 18, 2021
Additional Name(s): أسماء السبيعي
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia
Ethnic Group: Arab
Religion or Belief: Unspecified
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: June//2021
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Online Activity Resisting State-Imposed Religious Systems Women’s Rights
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Asmaa al-Subaie is detained for her women’s rights activism critical of state imposed religious systems.
In June 2021, authorities affiliated with the Presidency of State Security arrested al-Subaie, a university student, over tweets she made criticizing the harsh sentences against those calling for changes to the guardianship system and other laws affecting women.
معتقلي الرأي, Tweet, June 2, 2022
“Saudi Arabia: Authorities continue systematically targeting influential citizens, human rights defenders, journalists and Internet activists” Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)