Saudi human rights activist battles stroke, dies in custody

The founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association who had been in a coma after suffering a stroke has died in a Riyadh hospital.

The activist, who suffered from hypertension, had been told about three months ago by a doctor that he needed to undergo urgent heart surgery.

However, his operation, according to rights group was delayed by several months and was due to take place in May or early June 2020.

Dr Abdullah however suffered a stroke and fell into a coma in the intensive care unit in a Riyadh hospital on the 9th of April.

Prisoners of Conscience, a social media account that highlights Saudi political prisoners, described his death as “due to intentional health neglect”.

“We confirm that the death of Dr. Abdullah al-Hamed, an outspoken, leading reformer, and major member of HASM, was due to intentional health neglect in prison.

“We are devastated to hear of the passing of Abdullah al-Hamid. The Saudi authorities must be held accountable for his death. He was detained in poor conditions and they kept on postponing his surgery. They also denied him to stay in the hospital despite his poor health,” Director of MENA Rights Group, Ines Osman, said.

“His death reminds us that he should never have been imprisoned in the first place. At 69 years old, he had spent the past seven years in prison. His only crime was advocating for the advancement of human rights in his country.” he added.

Dr Abdullah al-Hamid and another activist, Mohammed al – Qahtani were sentenced to 10 and 11 years respectively after conviction.

The Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association was shut down after its co-founders were convicted.

Campaigners say Saudi Arabia has one of the worst records for human rights in the world, with freedom of expression severely curtailed and critics of the government subject to what they say is arbitrary arrest.

Saudi Arabia who has been widely criticised for its intolerance of dissent is yet to comment on the reports.