Abuse of power & retaliationCourts & justice
Saudi prosecutors have kept reformist cleric Salman al-Ouda in solitary confinement and repeatedly delayed his trial for eight years while still seeking the death penalty
Confidence: Confirmed · 3 sourcesSaudi Arabia · Sep 22, 2026
Subject of this story
Public Prosecution (Saudi Arabia)
Also named
Oversight
Specialized Criminal Court (Saudi Arabia)
Affected
Salman al-Ouda, Islamic scholar and cleric
Advocate
Amnesty International
What happened
Salman al-Ouda was arrested without a warrant on September 7, 2017, hours after a tweet during the Qatar-Gulf diplomatic rift, and charged in a secret 2018 trial before the Specialized Criminal Court with 37 offenses including supporting Arab Spring protests; prosecutors have sought the death penalty. As of 2025 he remains in solitary confinement — the entire duration of his roughly eight-year detention — with Saudi authorities repeatedly suspending or delaying court sessions rather than resolving the case, according to Amnesty International, which says his health has deteriorated with the loss of half his hearing and eyesight.
By the numbers (1)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Roles
●
Amnesty International (2025) reports that Salman al-Ouda has been held in solitary confinement for seven years, the entire duration of his detention, and that prosecutors have sought the death penalty in his case.
1 source
- www.amnesty.orgDocument
has been held in solitary confinement for seven years
Sources (3)
SourceSheikh Salman Alodah has been held in solitary confinement for seven years — the entire duration of his detention — which amounts to torture or other ill-treatment under international law; prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty.
JURISTAmnesty International renewed its call for the release of Salman al-Ouda, held since 2017 with repeatedly delayed trial proceedings.
ALQST for Human Rights (political prisoners tracker)Ongoing case tracker documenting Salman al-Odah's continued detention without a concluded trial.
Response
Public Prosecution (Saudi Arabia)
No response by publication
Contacted — no response by publication.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.