Saudi Citizen Condemned To Death Over Social Media Posts On Elon Musk-Owned X

A Saudi court has pronounced a death sentence on a man for his social media posts on Elon Musk-owned X platform — formerly known as Twitter — marking the severe intensification of a crackdown on dissent, sparking international condemnation.

As per AP News, the judgment against Mohammed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi was seen by the outlet on Wednesday. This comes amidst the ongoing trial of doctoral student Salma al-Shehab and others who could face decades in prison over their online comments.

The sentences appear a part of a broader attempt by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to suppress defiance in the kingdom. According to Lina Alhathloul, head of monitoring and advocacy at the London-based advocacy group ALQST, the death sentence is “extremely horrific” and signals authorities’ escalating repression.

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The charges against al-Ghamdi include “betraying his religion,” “disturbing the societal security,” “conspiring against the government,” and “impugning the kingdom and the crown prince,” all linked to his online activities.

While al-Ghamdi’s specific targeting remains unclear, his brother, Saeed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi, a notable critic of the Saudi government, resides in the United Kingdom. Critics argue that the Saudi government has previously used family arrests to pressure those abroad into returning home.

International rights groups have strongly denounced the sentence. Joey Shea, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated that the ruling represented a “terrifying new stage” of repression in Saudi Arabia.

Amnesty International reports that Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s top executioners, executed 196 inmates last year, the highest in 30 years. However, al-Ghamdi’s case is the first to leverage the death penalty for online behavior in the ongoing crackdown.

Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com

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