Eminent Saudi activist, denied due medical care, dies in Saudi jail: Report

The file photo shows deceased Saudi activist Abdallah al-Hamed. (Via Social Media)

A prominent Saudi rights activist, Abdallah al-Hamed, has died in detention in Saudi Arabia as a result of “deliberate medical negligence” days after suffering a stroke, a report says.

Citing Saudi sources, the Arabic-language Arabi21 online newspaper reported that Hamed died on Friday morning a few days after his health deteriorated.

Hamed had been transferred to the al-Shumeisi Hospital in the Saudi capital of Riyadh after suffering a stroke on April 9, according to Arabi21.

Yet, Saudi activists said that Hamed’s death had been a result of “deliberate medical negligence,” according to Arabi21 and other Arab outlets, including the London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

The influential Saudi thinker was serving an 11-year prison sentence since 2013 for his role in the formation of the “Hasm” human rights group. The rights group advocated for the imposition of constitutional restraints on the Saudi monarchy and called for increased civil engagement in the country’s political process.

Eisa al-Hamed, Abdallah’s brother, is the leader of Hasm group and is also in prison. Abdul-Rahman al-Hamed, Abdallah’s other brother, is also behind bars.

The Saudi activist, who was also a university professor, had written numerous books and works of poetry regarding human rights.

The Saudi regime has come under increasing international scrutiny for its handling of critics and human rights activists ever since the state murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul in 2018 attracted global attention to Riyadh’s treatment of dissidents.

The Saudi kingdom has, however, been continuing with its numerous human rights abuses mainly due to extensive economic ties with and the political backing of Western countries.