Pilgrims and tourists detained in Saudi Arabia over online posts
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Wed, 07/01/2026 - 15:30
Report documents cases of arrests and lengthy sentences due to social media expression, as wife of French detainee tells MEE her husband faces 'repeated abuses'
Ahmed al-Doush, who was working for Bank of America at the time, was arrested in August 2024 at Riyadh airport over his social media usage (Supplied)
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People visiting Saudi Arabia for religious pilgrimages and tourism are being detained, subjected to unfair trials and sentenced to lengthy jail time over social media expression, according to a new report.
Amnesty International and Alqst published a report this week looking into the cases of at least nine people, mostly from Middle East and Global South countries of origin, detained over online posts.
The arrests took place between July 2022 and late last year.
One of the cases was that of Amr Abdelfattah, a French father of three, who was detained in June 2024 whilst performing the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
He was initially held for 11 months, before being put on trial in May 2025 over charges related to his online speech. Saudi authorities alleged that he had “insulted” the government and praised “prosecuted individuals”.
He was also charged over a visa discrepancy - which Amnesty and Alqst noted usually only carried a fine or deportation, but not jail time.
“My husband was arrested after falling victim to a common visa scam,” Abdelfattah’s wife told Middle East Eye.
'My husband was arrested after falling victim to a common visa scam'
- Wife of Amr Abdelfattah
“Instead of being fined and deported, he has spent two years in detention, where he has endured repeated abuse and faces additional charges over peaceful expression.
“It's time for this ordeal to end and for our family to be reunited.”
MEE has reached out to the Saudi embassy in London for comment.
Another case relates to Ahmed al-Doush, a British national serving five years in a Saudi jail over his social media usage.
Doush, who was working for Bank of America at the time, was arrested in August 2024 at Riyadh airport as he was set to return to the UK after visiting Saudi Arabia with his then-pregnant wife and children.
He was detained over social media posts he had published before travelling to Saudi Arabia.
Not allowed to discuss case or conditions
As MEE reported last year, Doush had no history of political activism.
His wife said that she was left alone with her three young children and gave birth to their fourth child during his detention.
"Ahmed was taken from me and the children without warning or explanation. His absence has been deeply distressing to me and my children," Amaher Nour said.
"Our fourth child arrived only about a week ago and Ahmed wasn't able to be there, I couldn't even speak to him on the phone. My children and I just want him home as soon as possible, and seek the active support and help of the UK government to protect his rights."
Despite repeated requests, Saudi authorities have not shared court documents with Doush’s family or his lawyer in the UK.
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Doush told his wife that he could only speak to her about the family’s wellbeing, and that any discussion about the conditions of his detention, his health, the legal proceedings or the charges against him would result in the call ending and further punishment.
His family said that he was recently denied contact with them because he had spoken in English to his children.
Abdelfattah’s family have also said that whenever he has spoken about his treatment or the trial, calls have been cut off. He is not allowed to speak in French; he is only permitted to speak in Arabic so that calls can be monitored.
Alqst reported that Abdelfattah was subjected to beatings by prison guards.
Other cases include Fahd Ramadhan, a Dutch-Yemeni detained in November 2023 and held arbitrarily for 18 months.
He was never formally charged, but Ramadhan believes his detainment was over online posts sympathising with a critic of the Saudi royal family.
Saudi interrogators asked him to sign a document which had listed four posts he had made on X. He was eventually released in June last year.
Actual number detained may be higher
The report noted that some of those detained have been made to sign documents in Arabic that they do not understand.
Four of those detained were performing either the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages, whilst the other five were visiting Saudi Arabia with their families.
One unnamed individual was arrested in Mecca whilst performing Umrah over social media posts criticising Saudi authorities that he had made a few hours earlier. The posts were subsequently deleted.
The individual was detained for 20 months without trial, before being released.
'Governments that profess to believe in universal human rights should advocate for the release of all those arbitrarily detained'
- Nadyeen Abdulaziz, Alqst
Another person was detained and released after one year for holding up a piece of paper during Umrah, calling for the release of a political prisoner held in another country.
Meanwhile, Haidar Slim, a Lebanese national, was detained in 2022 during Hajj after he filmed himself chanting a Shia religious slogan.
He was sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of 10,000 Saudi riyals. Following a diplomatic intervention, he was released in March 2025.
Amnesty and Alqst note that the actual number of arrests of visitors relating to freedom of expression is likely to be much greater, owing to a lack of transparency and also fear of speaking out.
“Foreign governments should use the means available to them to protect the rights of their citizens and residents while abroad, including providing consular assistance and monitoring trial proceedings,” Nadyeen Abdulaziz of Alqst said.
“Governments that profess to believe in universal human rights should advocate for the release of all those arbitrarily detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression.”
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