Mohammad Alghamdi, a former teacher in Saudi Arabia with a modest internet following, has been sentenced to death for publicly criticizing government figures, notably Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), on social media. This amounts to a severe attack on free speech online. Alghamdi uploaded articles criticizing public corruption on two anonymous social media profiles, despite having just about 8 followers.
People in Saudi Arabia could vent their complaints about the government on the social media site X anonymously, giving them a forum to do so.
Alghamdi’s case is noteworthy because of the severity of his sentencing in light of how little impact he had online. He has the right to challenge his execution. According to court records examined by human rights organizations, he was found guilty on July 10 under the broadly construed counterterrorism statute. He was accused of supporting terrorism and insulting the Saudi king or crown prince.
The trial was held at the Riyadh Specialized Criminal Court, which generally hears terrorism matters. Reports, however, imply that this court is increasingly being utilized to silence government critics. Prosecutors frequently assert that any criticism of the Saudi government endangers community stability and the country’s security. It’s significant to remember that many of these situations are kept confidential.
