Manchester, UK – September 1, 2025 — The family of Ahmed al-Doush, a British citizen jailed in Saudi Arabia for a tweet posted eight years ago, is pleading for urgent intervention as he nears a hunger strike to protest his detention.
Al-Doush, 42, a Sudanese-British father of four and business analyst from Manchester, was arrested exactly one year ago while on holiday in Saudi Arabia. He spent nine months in detention before being sentenced in May 2025 to 10 years in prison, later reduced to eight years, under the kingdom’s anti-terrorism laws.
His wife, who was pregnant at the time of his arrest, returned to the UK and later gave birth to their youngest child — a baby Ahmed has never met.
“This past year without Ahmed has been unbearable for me and our children,” his wife said. “The emotional and physical strain has been overwhelming.”
🗣️ Convicted Over Social Media Posts
According to Amnesty International UK, Ahmed was convicted on charges related to social media posts about Egypt, Sudan, and Gaza. The organization states the charges stem from activity that would fall under legitimate free expression in the UK.
Amnesty has urged the UK government to step up diplomatic efforts on his behalf, warning that his health and mental state are deteriorating, and he is now considering a hunger strike.
“His conviction appears to be based solely on a British national exercising their right to freedom of expression,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty.
🏛️ Calls for UK Government Action
Human rights advocates and MPs have called on the UK Foreign Office to intervene more robustly, arguing that the case sets a dangerous precedent for UK citizens traveling abroad.
Al-Doush is currently held in al-Hair Prison in Riyadh, a facility known for detaining political prisoners and activists.
His case underscores growing concerns about cross-border repression, with authoritarian states punishing individuals for online speech—even if posted outside their jurisdiction.
