Dr. Sheikh Saleh Al-Talib, former Imam and preacher of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, has been released from Saudi prison after over seven years of detention, advocacy groups confirmed. However, the prominent Sunni scholar is now under house arrest and required to wear an electronic ankle monitor, drawing criticism from human rights organizations.
Al-Talib, born in 1974 and a judge in Mecca’s District Court, was arrested in August 2018 amid a crackdown on dissent under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. His detention stemmed from sermons criticizing government policies, including mixed-gender gatherings and normalization with Israel. Despite an initial acquittal in 2022, an Appeals Court sentenced him to 10 years, with the Supreme Court later intervening to prolong his ordeal.
“His release is a step forward, but house arrest and digital monitoring are a transfer from prison to a ‘digital prison,’” said Together for Justice, a human rights group. They demand his unconditional freedom and call for UN intervention to address Saudi Arabia’s detention of dissidents.
The case reflects a broader pattern of targeting clerics and activists, such as Salma al-Shehab, sentenced to 34 years for critical tweets. No official Saudi statement has been issued on Al-Talib’s release. Advocacy groups like Prisoners of Conscience and DAWN continue to monitor the situation, urging global solidarity for free expression in the Kingdom.
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