The holy month of Ramadan is the month of tolerance and mercy. However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman refuses to release any political prisoners as part of the Ramadan pardon tradition.
Well-informed sources affirmed that MBS ordered the prison services to tighten restrictions imposed against prisoners of conscience during the holy month of Ramadan. Those who neglect the orders will face the same fate, the sources added.
The sources further confirmed that the prison services already started imposing tight restrictions on political prisoners, including medical negligence, psychological abuse, and death threats.
Preachers Salman Al-Awda, Nasser Al-Omar, and Awad Al-Qarni are still held in solitary confinement, amid very poor detention conditions.
The preacher Ali Al-Omari is still in a prison designated for torture practices, which was previously supervised by Saud Al-Qahtani, the sources pointed out, saying that Al-Omari is in a very serious health condition.
Prominent scholars and Islamic organisations have earlier slammed, in a statement, the persecution of the preacher Salman Al-Awda, Dr. Ali Al-Omari, and other political prisoners in Saudi Arabia.
The statement called on the Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Sheikh al-Awda, his companions, and all political detainees.
The Secretary-General of the Association of Ahl al-Sunnah, Dr. Jamal Abdel Sattar, said that depriving the nation of its prominent scholars and sheikhs is a legal crime and hostility to Islam and Muslims.
Saudi prosecutors earlier demanded to impose death penalty against Salman Al-Awda, Awad Al-Qarni, and Ali Al-Omari.
Saudi authorities have been engaged in a severe crackdown on individuals who are perceived to be critics of the Saudi government, including human rights advocates, female activists, and scholars, leading to serious international warnings over their fate.
