‘Prominent Saudi Rights Activist Dies In Detention’

By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News

(Worthy News) – A prominent Saudi Arabian rights campaigner imprisoned since 2013 for dissident activities for which he was awarded the “Alternative Nobel” prize has died, activists and friends confirmed. The 69-year-old Abdullah al-Hamid passed away Thursday in King Saud Medical City in Riyadh, the capital, after suffering a stroke on April 9 in prison, said London-based Saudi rights group ALQST.

Hamid, who was seen as a daring voice for the voiceless in autocratically-ruled Saudi Arabia, was one of the 11 founding members of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA). The group documented human rights abuses and called for a constitutional monarchy. The ACPRA was disbanded in 2013. All its members were eventually sentenced by Saudi courts on charges relating to its work.

Hamid was detained seven times, the last time in 2013, along with another founding member of ACPRA, according to sources familiar with the case. In 2013 he received 11 years imprisonment on charges such as breaking allegiance to the ruler, questioning the integrity of officials, seeking to disrupt security, and inciting disorder by calling for demonstrations. He was also accused of instigating international organizations against the Kingdom.

“He was one of the first Saudi intellectuals that called for a constitution and democracy in the country. And he struggled with conservative clerics who declared him apostate,” ALQST’s representative Yahya Assiri said. The word “apostate” is often used in Saudi Arabia for those perceived as abandoning Islam, the country’s state religion.

Sweden-based Right Livelihood Foundation (RLF) condemned Saudi authorities “in the strongest terms for al-Hamid’s unlawful imprisonment and inhumane treatment that led to his death.” The foundation in 2018 awarded him the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the alternative Nobel Prize, along with fellow activists Mohammad Fahad al-Qahtani and Waleed Abu al-Khair. They received the 1 million kronor ($99,000) award for efforts to reform Saudi Arabia’s political system.

“We are heartbroken about the passing of Abdullah al-Hamid. He has paid the ultimate price for his convictions. We hold Saudi authorities directly responsible for al-Hamid’s death. They have deliberately denied him access to proper medical care for many months during his imprisonment,” stressed Ole von Uexkull, executive director of RLF.

Hamid reportedly had a heart attack earlier this year while in al-Ha’ir prison, known for holding political dissidents and Islamic State militants. He was brought back to prison from the hospital without having the surgery doctors advised to treat his heart, sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. His health continued to worsen, leading to the stroke he suffered earlier this month.

Saudi Arabia had no immediate known comment.

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