Additional Name(s): Khalid bin Muhammad bin Hamad Al Rashed, خالد الراشد

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 40 Years' Imprisonment (Originally Increased to 15 Years' Imprisonment, Increased by 8 Years, Increased by 17 Years)

Sentence: Originally 5 Years' Imprisonment

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Association Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Khaled Al-Rashed

Extra Bio Info:

Khaled Al-Rashed is imprisoned for his religious expression and association.

In the mid 2000s, authorities arrested Al-Rashed, a reformist cleric. According to Alkarama, Al-Rashed was arrested on March 19, 2006, for criticizing government policies and his membership in the so-called Movement of Reformers. According to Sanad and Prisoners of Conscience, Al-Rashed was arrested in 2005 over a sermon calling for protests against Danish cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad.

In 2007, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared Al-Rashed's detention arbitrary.

On an unspecified date, Al-Rashed was reportedly sentenced to five years in prison.

In 2009, Al-Rashed's sentence was reportedly increased to 15 years in prison.

In 2020, Al-Rashed reportedly completed his sentence; however, his release was delayed.

On November 26, 2021, Al-Rashed was reportedly transferred out of Ha’ir Prison to General Investigation, despite his deteriorating health.

In February 2022, it was reported that an appeals court had sentenced Al-Rashed to an additional eight years in prison, bringing his total sentence to 23 years in prison.

In November 2022, it was reported that an appeals court had again added an additional 17 years to Al-Rashed's sentence, bringing his total sentence to 40 years in prison.

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