A Saudi man has faced the death penalty due to his social media activity on X and YouTube, signaling a continued crackdown on dissent in the country.
In a recent report by The Associated Press, it was revealed that Mohammad bin Nasser al-Ghamdi, a retired schoolteacher from Saudi Arabia, was sentenced to death by the specialized Criminal Court. Originally established to handle terror cases, this court now handles cases against activists as well. The charges against al-Ghamdi include “betraying his religion,” “disturbing the security of society,” “conspiring against the government,” and “impugning the kingdom and the crown prince.”
All of these charges stem from al-Ghamdi’s online activities on X and YouTube. Although officials did not provide a specific reason for targeting al-Ghamdi, it is worth noting that his brother, Saeed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi, has been an outspoken critic of the Saudi government while residing in the United Kingdom.
Reacting to the ruling, Saeed tweeted last Thursday, “This false ruling aims to spite me personally after failed attempts by the investigators to have me return to the country.”
Expressing concern, Joey Shea, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated that this sentencing demonstrates the alarming new reality in Saudi Arabia where individuals can receive the death penalty for simply posting peaceful tweets.
According to Amnesty International, Saudi Arabia ranks among the top countries in terms of executions, trailing only behind China and Iran. In 2022, the country executed nearly 200 inmates, marking the highest number recorded by Amnesty International in the past thirty years.
The AP notes that al-Ghamdi’s case seems to be the first instance of a death sentence solely based on online posts.
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