Saudi Scholar Salman al-Ouda Faces Eighth Year in Solitary Without Trial or Verdict
Prominent Islamic Cleric Held Without Fair Trial as Human Rights Groups Decry Psychological and Medical Abuse.
Watan-Prominent Saudi cleric Salman al-Ouda has faced a grim fate in solitary confinement for over eight years, without a final court ruling or even the completion of a transparent trial. Since his arrest in September 2017, al-Ouda has been held in near-total isolation in a Saudi prison, cut off from the outside world.
Notably, Saudi authorities charged him with nearly 37 counts, most of which relate to tweets and public opinions advocating for Gulf reconciliation—particularly between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Al-Ouda never incited violence or issued direct calls for unrest. Despite this, the public prosecution has demanded the death penalty “by discretionary punishment,” in what has become one of the most politically controversial cases in the kingdom.
The court sessions for al-Ouda’s case were held in secrecy, away from the eyes of human rights groups and international observers. Hearings have been completely halted since 2021, leaving his legal status suspended in limbo. A report from his family, led by his son Abdullah al-Ouda, confirmed that the cleric’s health has seriously deteriorated, including partial loss of vision, amid deliberate medical neglect that could have tragic consequences.
Salman al-Ouda: A Scholar Silenced Amid Saudi Arabia’s Global Image Campaign
Human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have described al-Ouda’s continued detention as a form of psychological and physical torture. They emphasized that he has not been given a fair chance to defend himself in court. His ordeal reflects what they describe as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s crackdown on dissent and suppression of moderate Islamic voices.
Al-Ouda’s case has sparked growing concern among human rights and religious communities, especially given his stature in the Muslim world. He was a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars and the European Council for Fatwa and Research. His imprisonment comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is attempting to revamp its global image through investment, tourism, and liberalization—posing a stark contradiction between official rhetoric and human rights realities.
With mounting concern and repeated appeals for justice, one critical question remains:How long will Salman al-Ouda remain trapped in isolation and injustice, without a fair trial or clear resolution?
