The case of a 41-year-old British citizen from Manchester who has been detained in Saudi Arabia without charge since late August 2024 has been raised before the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention by his legal team at 33 Bedford Row.
Haydee Dijkstal, leading Simon Ridding, has been instructed by the family of Mr Ahmed Al-Doush, to raise his case under international law to raise the numerous violations of his rights in detention, and to request a finding that his detention is arbitrary under international law.
On 16 December 2024, a formal ‘Communication’ was filed with the Working Group which submitted that the fundamental right to a fair trial, free expression and free association have been violated. Information indicates that the detention of Mr Al-Doush is due to a social media about the situation in Sudan, and the inaccurate perception of an association with a UK based Saudi dissident – both protected by his right to free expression. The legal submission requested the Working Group to find that his detention is arbitrary under international law because (1) the detention is based on exercise of his right to free expression and (2) there are violations of his right to a fair trial and due process of such a gravity to make his detention arbitrary.
The family of Mr Al-Doush decided to come forward and speak publicly about the case in January 2025, and after over 4 months of him being detained without charge. For the first 2.5 months of his detention Mr Al-Doush’s family had little to no information as to the reasons why and where he was being held. They now know that he was in solitary and incommunicado confinement for the initial 33 days and still hasn’t been charged with any offence or had access to a lawyer. Due to the prolonged detention, Mr Al-Doush’s wife gave birth to their fourth child on 27 December 2024 without Mr Al-Doush being present.
Media coverage of the case includes:
Foreign Office refused to give us details about Briton jailed in Saudi, family say | The Guardian
Saudi Arabia jails British citizen for four months without charge | Middle East Eye
Saudi Arabia continues to hold British citizen without charge | Middle East Monitor