The Saudi Specialised Criminal Court has sentenced a Saudi man to death for retweeting a post on X, formerly known as Twitter about the government, and his activity on YouTube, according to a report.
The case of retired teacher, Mohammed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi has aroused uproar globally and raised significant questions about the situation of freedom of expression in the Middle Eastern country, Saudi Arabia.
The charges against him, including “betraying his religion,” “disturbing the security of society,” “conspiring against the government,” and “impugning the kingdom and the Saudi crown prince,” have ignited a fierce debate on the limits of freedom of expression and the government’s authoritarian response to criticism.
The severity of the sentence is especially concerning given that al-Ghamdi’s conduct comprised reposting other people’s critical posts (retweeting) rather than tweeting his own. Furthermore, his X (Twitter) handle only has 8 followers.
Reports also mentioned that the al-Ghamdi situation is complicated further by his brother’s reputation, Sheikh Saeed bin Nasser Al-Ghamdi, as an outspoken critic of the Saudi monarchy, who is currently residing in the United Kingdom as an Islamic scholar.
The judgment, according to Mohammed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi’s brother, was an attempt to single him out and coerce him into going back to Saudi Arabia. According to a report, Mohammed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi’s brother said in a tweet:
“This false ruling aims to spite me personally after failed attempts by the investigators to have me return to the country.“
The severity of the issue is highlighted by the widespread outcry that followed the death sentence for al-Ghamdi. Individuals have both expressed their concerns about the declining situation of freedom of expression and human rights in Saudi Arabia.
Concerns have been expressed by activists, scholars, and groups that support free speech and human rights about the decision to execute people for merely posting critical content on social media.
A few weeks ago, a Saudi court sentenced a doctoral student to 34 years in prison for spreading “rumours” and retweeting dissidents. These instances show that no one is beyond their reach and expressing dissent, even online, comes with dire consequences.
Read Also: X (Twitter) lifts ban on paid political ads in a bid to increase revenue
Death penalty for “criminal” offences including online content in Saudi
Only China and Iran surpassed Saudi Arabia in the number of executions carried out in 2022. According to the report, the country’s execution rate has raised eyebrows, with Amnesty International reporting that 196 individuals were executed in a single year, marking the highest number in 30 years.
The mass execution of 81 people in a single day last March stands as a stark reminder of the regime’s harsh tactics. Amidst this backdrop, al-Ghamdi’s case stands out as the first instance where the death penalty has been invoked as part of the ongoing crackdown on online dissent.
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