Brussels, 7 October 2025 —
The International Federation for Rights and Development (IFRD) welcomes the recent release of several Saudi human rights defenders and prisoners of opinion, including Dr. Mohammed al-Qahtani, Abdulaziz al-Shubaily, Issa al-Nukheifi, and Salma al-Shehab, as well as other activists who have spent years unjustly imprisoned for peacefully expressing their views.
These releases mark a positive step that must be followed by comprehensive measures to ensure genuine freedom and justice for all those detained for exercising their fundamental rights. IFRD stresses that many of the individuals recently released remain under strict restrictions, including travel bans, surveillance, and bans on public communication—conditions that effectively extend their punishment beyond prison walls.
While acknowledging this limited progress, IFRD reiterates its deep concern over the continued detention of dozens of writers, scholars, and civil society leaders who remain behind bars for peacefully advocating for reform, accountability, or women’s rights.
IFRD calls upon the Saudi authorities to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release all remaining prisoners of opinion;
- Lift restrictions on those recently freed, including travel and expression bans;
- Align national legislation and practices with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights standards;
- Ensure an open civic space where citizens can engage freely without fear of persecution.
True reform and credibility cannot exist while voices of conscience are silenced. The liberation of all peaceful activists would signal a genuine commitment to justice, dialogue, and reconciliation.
