A Saudi court has sentenced Mohammed al-Ghamdi, the brother of prominent UK-based religious scholar Saeed al-Ghamdi, to death for his tweets criticizing government mismanagement.
Mohammed al-Ghamdi was also accused of defending detained Saudi scholars during interrogations.
This case marks the first death sentence related to social media posts in a series of extreme sentences for online activism.
Critics argue that the Saudi government is using such charges to suppress free speech, as Mohammed al-Ghamdi was not accused of inciting violence or terrorism.
Human rights advocates are alarmed by the speed of this death sentence, emphasizing the growing concern over Saudi Arabia’s disregard for lives and due process in legal proceedings.
Saeed al-Ghamdi believes the case may be linked to his own refusal to return to Saudi Arabia, suggesting that it is a means to punish him for his dissent.
** This news actually appeared in Middle East Eye
