The family of a father of four is expressing deep distress as he remains imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for a tweet he posted eight years ago, with fears that he may resort to a hunger strike. Ahmed al-Doush, a 42-year-old banking business analyst of Sudanese descent, was arrested during a holiday in Saudi Arabia a year ago and has been detained ever since. Initially sentenced to 10 years in May, his sentence has been reduced to eight years.
Advocacy group Amnesty International UK is urging the UK government to intensify efforts to assist Mr. al-Doush and his family from Manchester. He was in custody when his fourth child, whom he has never met, was born, while his pregnant wife was allowed to return to the UK.
Amnesty International reports that Mr. al-Doush has been convicted under Saudi Arabia’s terrorism laws for social media posts concerning Egypt, Sudan, and Gaza. The lack of access to court documents and details of the actual posts has left uncertainties surrounding his conviction.
His lawyer, Haydee Dijksta, emphasized the urgent need for UK government intervention to secure Al-Doush’s release, citing concerns over his health and well-being, especially amid reports of a hunger strike. The family is pleading for expedited action to bring him back home.
A spokesperson from the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office confirmed that they are actively supporting the detained British national in Saudi Arabia and maintaining communication with his family and local authorities.