The UK-based Sanad Human Rights Organisation has uncovered the case of Mohammed Alhazza Alghamdi, a cartoonist and teacher arrested by the Saudi authorities in February 2018. His arrest was a direct consequence of his cartoons for Lusail, a Qatari newspaper, despite having stopped contributing shortly before his arrest. I have not yet been able to find the cartoons in question, but I am still working on it.
Alhazza Alghamdi, who signs as"Al-Hazza", was drawing political cartoons, but also religious themes, for the daily Lusail when the year-long diplomatic boycott by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain against Qatar began in 2017.
He was initially sentenced on various charges to six years' imprisonment and a travel ban, but the case was later reopened and the sentence was increased to 23 years' imprisonment with no possibility of appeal. The cartoonist is now incarcerated in Dhahban Central Prison in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
This is the account of his arrest and the reasons for it, according to the organisation Sanad.
Sources indicate that Alhazza was under surveillance by an undercover informant prior to his arrest. While travelling to a wedding, the informant sat next to him on both flights. After returning home, security forces, guided by the same informant, conducted a violent raid on a coffee shop where he was with a friend, which resulted in his arrest. They then invaded his home, ignoring the fact that his pregnant wife was present, confiscated his belongings and searched his study, causing serious injury to one of his children, all without a legal search warrant.
Alhazza faces numerous charges, including alleged sympathy for Qatar and claims that he drew 100 insulting pictures. He is also accused of tweeting that Qatar did not deserve the severing of diplomatic ties, as well as communicating with alleged adversaries and following opposition accounts on X (Twitter).
In his defence, Alhazza explained that he had worked remotely for Lusail before diplomatic relations with Qatar were severed and only briefly afterwards. He denied that the drawings cited by the prosecution were offensive to Saudi Arabia, stating that most of them referred to internal Qatari issues and were not derogatory. He clarified that all the drawings submitted were from his time at the newspaper, not created after the severing of ties, and added that some of the evidence had been fabricated.
In addition, Alhazza asked for proof that some of his cartoons insulted the Saudi government, a request that the prosecution did not comply with. He submitted a letter from Dr. Ghazi Algosaibi, a former respected political figure in Saudi Arabia, praising his work as constructive criticism, which directly contradicts the accusations against him.
As for the claim that he stated that Qatar did not deserve the severance of ties, Alhazza strongly denied having made such a statement. He stressed that there is no material evidence to support this claim, and it is not reflected in the case files. This strongly suggests that the Saudi authorities fabricated this accusation, as they have done with others. Sanad argues that even if proven, it would not constitute a crime, but would fall within the freedom of expression protected by law.
Alhazza stressed that his interactions with Qatari citizens were personal and not governmental, emphasising that the crisis was political, not personal. He pointed to inconsistencies in the subsequent ruling, which labelled Qatar an adversary state despite not being one at the time of the alleged offences, nor at the time of the verdict, which followed the appointment of a Qatari ambassador and the re-establishment of relations.
He challenged the prosecution to provide any legal basis for criminalising the act of following X accounts, which they cited as evidence of his alleged misconduct. This challenge highlighted the prosecution's inability to substantiate its claims.
Despite the logic of Alhazza's defence, the court ignored his arguments, even admitting that the evidence presented was insufficient to prove any insult. Nevertheless, he was convicted, in blatant violation of his rights.
Reports indicate that Alhazza has suffered serious abuses, including coercion to confess to unfounded charges and months of enforced disappearance. Following his arrest, communication with his family was completely cut off and they were subjected to restrictions during post-conviction visits. In addition, he has suffered continuous degrading treatment and has been denied medical assistance.
Alhazza, who suffered from diabetes before his imprisonment, is now facing even more serious health problems due to inadequate medical care. The wilful neglect he has suffered has led to a significant deterioration in his health, requiring hospitalisation for several days. Despite the serious risks to his life, this neglect continues, leaving his urgent medical needs unattended.
Although all charges against Alhazza relate to freedom of expression protected by law, the trials were marred by absurdity and fabrication of evidence. The Specialised Criminal Court initially sentenced him to six years' imprisonment and a travel ban, but the case was later reopened and he was given a 23-year sentence that cannot be appealed. He is currently serving his sentence in Dhahban Central Prison in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Sanad believes that this situation highlights the urgent need for international action to protect artistic freedom and human rights in Saudi Arabia. "Alhazza's case exemplifies the worrying climate in Saudi Arabia, where no one is really safe; he became a target simply for being an artist, nothing more. This reality poses a major threat to all creative people in the country, so it is essential that we advocate for change and support those who dare to express themselves."
Humour in trouble, a collection of cases
Cases of cartoonists who have had problems of some importance because of their cartoons or satirical illustrations. There are also some stories of other people who, without being cartoonists, have got into trouble for sharing them.
