British Dad Jailed for 10 Years in Saudi Arabia Over Tweet

A British father of four, Ahmed al-Doush, has been sentenced to ten years in prison in Saudi Arabia over a tweet he posted in 2018. Al-Doush, a senior business analyst at Bank of America, was arrested in August 2024 while on holiday with his family in Riyadh. The tweet, which reportedly concerned the war in Sudan and did not mention Saudi Arabia, was later deleted. Despite his legal team’s efforts, al-Doush has been denied due process, legal representation, and consular access, with his family and legal advisors still unaware of the specific charges or the tweet used as evidence.

The case has sparked widespread concern about freedom of expression and the treatment of foreign nationals in Saudi Arabia, particularly given the country’s stringent laws against political expression. Al-Doush’s wife, Amaher Nour, has appealed to the UK Foreign Office for assistance, drawing attention to her husband’s deteriorating mental and physical health in solitary confinement. While the British government has expressed concern over his treatment, it maintains that it cannot intervene in Saudi Arabia’s legal system, highlighting the challenges faced by foreign nationals in such regimes.

Human rights groups, including Reprieve, have strongly condemned the trial and the lack of transparency surrounding al-Doush’s detention. This case brings to light the restrictive nature of Saudi laws, especially concerning political expression, and raises important questions about the UK’s diplomatic stance and how it protects its citizens abroad. While the UK Foreign Office has pledged to provide support, the limited consular assistance and the opacity of the legal process have led to public criticism, making this case a focal point for discussions about human rights and foreign policy.