On April 26, 2023, Palestinian national Dr. Hani al-Khudari was released from prison in Saudi Arabia after spending four years in arbitrary detention. He was convicted in an unfair trial before the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC), known for handling political and security-related cases with serious due process violations. Although his three-year prison sentence ended on February 28, 2022, authorities continued to detain him for another 14 months.
Dr. Hani al-Khudari was arrested alongside his father, Dr. Mohammed al-Khudari, on April 4, 2019. They were held without charges for nearly a year and faced gross human rights violations, including enforced disappearance, incommunicado detention, and solitary confinement. Despite international calls for their release, both men endured a deeply flawed trial and harsh sentences.
Unfair trial and sentencing
On March 8, 2020, Saudi authorities charged Dr. Hani al-Khudari and his father with “joining a terrorist entity,” referring to the Hamas de facto authorities. They were part of a mass trial involving 68 individuals. The trial, held before the SCC, was riddled with violations, including closed-door interrogations without legal representation.
On August 8, 2021, the SCC sentenced Dr. Mohammed al-Khudari to 15 years in prison, later reduced to seven and a half years due to his age. Dr. Hani al-Khudari received a three-year sentence, including time served, followed by deportation. An appeals court upheld his sentence on December 28, 2021. However, despite completing his term on February 28, 2022, he remained imprisoned until April 26, 2023.
International condemnation and calls for his release
During their detention, both men faced severe mistreatment, including enforced disappearance and arbitrary imprisonment. In October 2021, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) classified their detention as arbitrary and urged Saudi authorities to release them immediately. The WGAD also called for urgent medical care and compensation for both men under international human rights standards.
Dr. Hani al-Khudari’s long-overdue release marks an important step, but his wrongful imprisonment highlights the ongoing human rights abuses within Saudi Arabia’s justice system. His father remains in detention, despite global appeals for his freedom.
NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.
