Gender: Male

Current Location: Abha Prison

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Second Appeal: Decreased to 8 Years' Imprisonment; First Appeal: Death

Sentence: Originally 4 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: January/1/2014

Date of Sentencing: February//2016

Date of Release: August/23/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Apostasy Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Non-Belief

Nature of Charges: Apostasy

Ashraf Fayadh

Extra Bio Info:

Ashraf Fayadh was imprisoned for apostasy.

In August 2013, authorities arrested Fayadh, a Palestinian poet and artist living in Saudi Arabia, following an altercation with a man in Abha. The man reportedly told police that Fayadh had insulted Islam, the Prophet Mohamed, and Saudi Arabia, and promoted atheism through his poetry.  Shortly after, Fayadh was released.

On January 1, 2014, authorities arrested Fayadh again and accused him of "having illicit relations with women" and apostasy based on the 2013 arrest report.

In May 2014, the general court in Abha sentenced Fayadh to four years in prison and 800 lashes.

On November 17, 2015, Fayadh was resentenced to death. According to PEN America, his due process rights had been violated throughout the judicial proceedings.

In February 2016, Fayadh's death sentence was overturned on appeal.  He was instead sentenced to eight years in prison and 800 lashes. He also had to publicly repent for his alleged crimes. 

On August 23, 2022, Fayadh was released from prison, months after his sentence should have ended.

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