Saudi Arabia jails British citizen for four months without charge
The family of a British man who has been arbitrarily imprisoned by Saudi authorities for four months so far without charge is speaking out for the first time following months of inaction by the UK government.
Ahmed Ali al-Doush was detained on 31 August 2024 at the airport in Riyadh following a family visit, and has been held in prolonged solitary confinement for around four months.
Saudi authorities have not provided information about why Doush was arrested or the charges he faces.
The man's family had hesitated to make his case public in the hope that he would be released, but they said that the continuing lack of information from the Saudi authorities and the minimal action taken by the UK government has forced them to make the case public.
Doush, a senior business analyst who has no history of political activism, was not given a reason for his arrest and has still not been informed about his charges.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
His wife, Amaher Nour, who was in the final stages of a pregnancy when her husband was jailed, was left alone with her three young children and gave birth to their fourth child during his detention.
For the first two months of his detention, Doush was held incommunicado and denied legal representation and consular access.
'Ahmed was taken from me and the children without warning or explanation'
- Amaher Nour, wife of Ahmed Ali al-Doush
Nour was left in the dark about her husband's arrest and had thought he had been forcibly disappeared, as the Saudi authorities failed to provide any information about his case.
"Ahmed was taken from me and the children without warning or explanation. His absence has been deeply distressing to me and my children," 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."
Arbitrary detention
On 16 December, an international legal team representing Doush submitted a complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, arguing that his detention is 'arbitrary' under international law due to violations of his rights to fair trial and due process .
The complaint also highlighted that his detention was based on the right to free expression and therefore qualified as arbitrary.
Doush was reportedly interrogated about a tweet on his X account regarding the situation in Sudan and asked whether he had associated with a Saudi critic living in the UK, who he has no connection with.
The family also raised concerns about the UK government's lack of support for Doush, reporting that in the first two months of his detention, it had refused to share information regarding his case on the grounds of data protection.
Officials said they could not share the information until they had met with him and obtained consent for sharing information with his wife.
In a statement, 33 Bedford Row chambers, whose lawyers are representing Doush, said that the UK government denied the family information about his case until consular access was secured in November.
Furthermore, it said the government had failed to directly answer queries about its policy on data protection and that there is evidence that Doush's right to contact his family is being denied and consular access obstructed.
"Fundamental fair trial and due process rights are critical to protecting the rights, security, and wellbeing of individuals in state custody, as well as the rights of family members. This should be recognised and respected by all states," Haydee Dijkstal, a barrister representing Doush, said.
"British nationals detained abroad, and their families, should feel that their Government is on their side and deserve active support, communication and cooperation during an experience that is already immeasurably difficult,” she added.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
