It’s been six years since Saudi Arabia’s sweeping arrests in September, which saw prominent scholars, thinkers, activists, and academics incarcerated. Their voices have been silenced, but online campaigns and human rights advocates persistently remind the world of their plight.

Among the detainees are notable figures such as Ali Al-Omari, Awad Al-Qarni, Salman Al-Ouda, Abdulaziz Al-Fawzan, Saleh Al-Taleb, and Safar Al-Hawali. Their continued detention has spurred numerous online campaigns, with hashtags marking the six-year anniversary of their arrest.

Turki Al-Shalhoub, a prominent Twitter user, commented on the situation, “Eminent scholars, seasoned with age, knowledge, and experience, alongside thinkers and writers, have been imprisoned, tortured, electrocuted, and deprived of sleep.” He further emphasized the extent of their suffering, noting that some have lost their hearing or sight, while others have developed severe illnesses, all in the quest for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to consolidate power.

Another tweet from the account “Towards Freedom” pointed out the stark contrast between the treatment of these detainees and other religious figures who have aligned themselves with the government’s agenda. The tweet read, “Trust me, if the September detainees, the free scholars, and preachers, had agreed to become expatriates like Al-Maghamsi, Al-Fawzan, and Aaid Al-Qarni, they would be free today.”

The Saudi authorities remain tight-lipped about the fate of these detainees, with mainstream media largely ignoring their plight due to shifting political agendas. Their only beacon of hope remains the sporadic online campaigns and a handful of human rights organizations that occasionally release statements on their behalf.

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