Congress to Closely Monitor Al-Sadhan’s Appeal Hearing, Pelosi Says
United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reiterates her condemnation of the sentencing of Saudi humanitarian activist Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan, stressing that Congress will be closely monitoring the appeal hearing.
United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi saw that the sentencing of Saudi humanitarian activist Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan in April is a "grave injustice." She continued by saying that it constitutes Saudi Arabia's "continuing assault on freedom of expression."
Pelosi took to Twitter to say that Congress "will closely monitor Abdulrahman’s appeal hearing tomorrow, as well as all human rights abuses by the regime."
The sentencing of humanitarian aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan in April was a grave injustice, continuing Saudi Arabia’s assault on freedom of expression. Congress will closely monitor Abdulrahman’s appeal hearing tomorrow, as well as all human rights abuses by the regime.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 3, 2021
Abdulrahman Al-Sadhan's appeal hearing will be held Wednesday in the Court of Appeal in Riyadh.
ALQST Human Rights Organization called on Saudi Arabia to "quash" the "unjust" 20-year prison sentence against Al-Sadhan, calling on the Saudi authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally.
The appeal hearing in the trial of #AbdulrahmanAlsadhan is scheduled to take place tomorrow at the Appeals Court in Riyadh.@ALQST_En calls on the #Saudi authorities to quash the unjust 20-year sentence against him and to #FreeSadhan immediately. pic.twitter.com/gb9VxD8r01
— ALQST for Human Rights (@ALQST_En) August 3, 2021
The Saudi authorities sentenced Al-Sadhan to 20 years in prison in April for criticizing the authorities through his account on social media.
Al-Sadhan is a volunteer in the Red Crescent and was subjected to physical torture during the first period of his detention.
Since April, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has condemned the "brutal sentencing of humanitarian aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan." She also said that the sentencing following his disappearance and imprisonment without trial "is an appalling injustice."
"Riyadh needs to know that the world is watching Saudi Arabia’s disturbing actions and that we will hold them accountable," she added.