For Criticizing Govt On Social Media Saudi Man Jailed for 30 Yrs Instead of Death Sentence

A retired teacher, Mohammed al-Ghamdi was sentenced to 30 years in jail by a Saudi court for criticizing the government on social media. Accoring to reports, less than two months back his death sentence was overturned.

Ghamdi’s death sentence was overturned on appeal in August.

But the appeals court sentenced him to 30 years imprisonment instead.

Mohammed al-Ghamdi was sentenced to death in July 2023 by the Specialised Criminal Court. He was arrested in June 2022.

The case against him was on posts criticising the government and expressing support for “prisoners of conscience” like the jailed religious clerics.

Interestingly his X account had only nine followers. The charges he faced included conspiracy against the Saudi leadership, undermining state institutions and supporting terrorist ideology.

His other brother, 47-year-old Asaad al-Ghamdi, had been sentenced to 20 years over critical social media posts.