Saudi Cartoonist Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison
A Saudi cartoonist, known as Al-Hazza, who once worked for a Qatari newspaper, has been sentenced to 23 years in prison, marking the latest crackdown on dissent in Saudi Arabia. Mohammed al-Ghamdi’s satirical cartoons on Ramadan challenges and Middle East politics led to allegations that he insulted the kingdom, resulting in a six-year sentence initially.
Despite Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to modernize Saudi Arabia, the case exemplifies the lack of artistic freedom and human rights in the kingdom. The Saudi Specialised Criminal Court recently handed down an unappealable 23-year sentence, highlighting the perilous climate for artists in the country.
As international human rights organizations call for action to protect artists like al-Ghamdi, the prince continues to consolidate power by imprisoning dissenters and critics. This case joins others, like the imprisonment of a doctoral student over online comments, in highlighting the repressive environment in Saudi Arabia.
While bin Salman aims to improve Saudi Arabia’s global profile through economic and diplomatic initiatives, the crackdown on freedom of expression presents a stark contradiction to his liberalizing efforts.
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