Al-Hashmi’s health has seriously deteriorated due to ill-treatment in prison. Al-Hashmi is denied basic needs such as healthy food, time to exercise (such as walking) and has no direct access to sunlight.
Al-Hashmi was arrested on 2nd February 2007 along with five other activists, all of whom have been subjected to ill treatment by the authorities.
Soon after his arrest, a further ten activists were arrested in Jeddah and Medina. They were all accused of trying to form a group to assemble as oppositions to the Saudi Authorities. They were also accused of other crimes, all of which are too broad and vague, and without much substance.
Al-Hashimi was remanded in custody, without trial, until February 2010, three years after his arrest, when his trial began in the Specialized Criminal Court of Saudi Arabia. On 22 November 2012, Al-Hashimi was sentenced to 30 years in prison along with a further 30 years international ban on travel once his sentence had been served.
Al-Hashimi was subjected to physical torture to coerce him into a confession and also to break his hunger strike. Al-Hasimi reiterated his complaints of ill treatment in his trial to the Judge but the Judge refused to acknowledge these claims and did not order an investigation.
Currently, Al-Hashimi is suffering from various health issues and is in need of health care and follow-up treatments but Al-Hashimi has been denied access to any medical care.
We at ALQST demand that the authorities give Al-Hashimi access to medical care immediately. We hold the authorities responsible for the deterioration of his health and and and any consequences that may arise from prolonged deprivation of adequate medical care.
ALQST also needs your support to apply pressure on the authorities to free Dr. Saud Mokhtar Al-Hashimi. We want the authorities to stop degrading his dignity, to stop torturing him, to have all the charges dropped against him from the Specialised Criminal Court and to give him his fundamental rights to enjoy his life with dignity, liberty and security.
