Wife of Briton pleads for Saudi Arabia to release him from ‘arbitrary detention’

The wife of a British national who has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since 2024 for social media posts, has pleaded for his release as his wellbeing declines. In November, the UN working group on arbitrary detention found Ahmed al-Doush was being detained arbitrarily under international law and recommended his immediate release, as well as the payment of compensation. The findings followed its eight-month inquiry The plea for clemency by his wife, Amaher Nour, which is backed by Amnesty International , is less focused on the nature of the trial or the quality of Saudi justice, and is more a personal humanitarian appeal to the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Nour said: “One year and eight months have passed – long enough for us all to feel the weight of absence and the pain of separation. His return to his children has become a hope we hold on to every day. His return would restore stability to his family and give his children the chance to grow up in the care and embrace of their father, instead of living with this painful emptiness during their young years.” A humanitarian appeal has been made to the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Photograph: Reuters The UK Foreign Office told the Guardian: “We are supporting a British man who is detained in Saudi Arabia and in contact with his family and local authorities.” Officials said the Middle East minister, Hamish Falconer, has raised the case multiple times with his Saudi counterparts. …