Ahmed al-Doush was arrested whilst on a family holiday in Saudi Arabia and sentenced to eight years in prison for social media posts 

His wellbeing in detention has been deteriorating and he is considering a hunger strike in desperation at his situation  

‘No words can express the heartbreak of raising four children alone while their father is unjustly imprisoned’ - Amaher Nour, wife of Ahmed Al-Doush

‘The UK government’s failure to advocate for Ahmed and help him return to his family is extremely worrying’ – Sacha Deshmukh  

Amnesty International UK is calling on the UK government to urgently advocate for Ahmed al-Doush, one year since the father-of-four was arbitrarily and unlawfully detained in Saudi Arabia on 31 August 2024 whilst on holiday in the country.  

The Manchester-based British national was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May this year, later reduced to eight years. His wife was pregnant at the time of his arrest, and he has never met his fourth child. 

Ahmed has been convicted of charges under Saudi Arabia’s terrorism legislation for social media posts about Egypt, Sudan and Gaza, indicating that his conviction is based on a British national’s exercise of the right to free expression. Yet access to any court documents, the judgment or information about the exact social media posts continues to be prevented, leaving the details of Ahmed’s conviction unclear.

Since his arrest, Ahmed has faced multiple violations of his right to a fair trial. He was subjected to extensive interrogation without a lawyer present and before being informed of the charges against him. His family’s contact with him has been severely restricted and he has faced repeated ‘punishment’ for attempting to communicate about his case and conditions.   

Despite Ahmed’s unfair trial and his deteriorating conditions, the UK government has repeatedly failed to advocate for Ahmed, not taking a position on his case despite being provided with information indicating that Ahmed’s rights under international law are being violated.

Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, said:  

“For one whole year, Ahmed al-Doush has been trapped in a living hell – abducted and separated from his young family and detained in Saudi Arabia. 

“UK officials should be doing everything they can to secure Ahmed’s release, but instead very little action is being taken. The UK government’s failure to advocate for Ahmed and help him return to his family is extremely worrying. 

“It is vital that everything possible is done to urge the Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ahmed if he is detained solely for exercising his human rights.”  

Amaher Nour, wife of Ahmed Al-Doush, said:

“This past year without Ahmed has been unbearable for me and our children. The emotional and physical strain has been overwhelming.

“Just yesterday, our daughter — who has been unwell with a fever and chickenpox — burst into tears saying she wanted her father. Tomorrow is her birthday, and when I asked what gift she wanted, she said simply: ‘I want Daddy.’

“No words can express the heartbreak of raising four children alone while their father is unjustly imprisoned.

“Our children have never adjusted to his absence, and every day is filled with pain and longing. My greatest fear now is for Ahmed’s health and wellbeing, especially in light of his hunger strike. We are terrified for him and desperate for his safe return.” 

Haydee Dijkstal, Counsel for Mr Al-Doush, said:

“Despite Ahmed Al-Doush’s case being one whereby a British national has been convicted abroad in Saudi Arabia on terrorism charges after an unfair trial and despite him being issued a lengthy prison sentence for exercising his right to free expression through social media posts, the family continue to plead for the Government to act with urgency. 

“Repeated calls for his case to be escalated to the highest levels to seek an expedient resolution to the arbitrary detention of a British national which brings him home have been dismissed as unnecessary. Yet, a year on, Ahmed remains in detention and increasingly vulnerable.

“Now, urgent action by the UK government is critically required given recent information indicating that his conditions of his detention, which have left him isolated and have significantly impacted his wellbeing, are abusive and risk subjecting him to significant harm.” 

Extensive interrogation and restricted communication 

Since being detained, communication with Ahmed has been severely restricted. Ahmed has been told that if he attempts to say anything to his family about his case, proceedings, treatment or conditions of detention, or if he speaks in English, his monitored calls will be immediately cut and he will be ‘punished’ with denial of access to his family for a period of time thereafter.   

Ahmed has been repeatedly punished since January for attempting to tell his family about upcoming dates for his trial and his concerns with the proceedings, for speaking a few English words, and when his family attempted to tell him about a meeting with a UK official about his case. As a result, Ahmed has experienced deteriorating mental health and well-being, and is contemplating a hunger strike out of desperation.  

Communication with family is a right for detained persons under international law.  

UK government has failed to take meaningful action on the case 

The UK government’s actions have fallen short of meaningfully advocating for Ahmed in order to secure his release. Despite being provided with information indicating that Ahmed’s rights under international law are being violated, the Government has not taken a position privately or publicly on this information or even expressed concern that a British citizen’s rights might be violated, or that his detention is arbitrary under international law.  

The Government has failed to secure clarity on the details of Ahmed’s conviction for terrorism charges and on the severe sentence he was handed for unconfirmed social media posts.

Furthermore, the Government has failed to act with urgency to actively and consistently monitor Ahmed’s wellbeing, following reports that his conditions and wellbeing are deteriorating, and news that he is on the verge of hunger strike.