Dad Jailed in Saudi Arabia Over 8-Year-Old Tweet, Family Says He’s in “Living Hell”

A British father-of-four has been jailed in Saudi Arabia for a tweet he posted eight years ago, leaving his family in Manchester devastated and campaigning for his release.

Ahmed al-Doush, 42, a banking business analyst of Sudanese heritage, was arrested while on holiday in Saudi Arabia with his family in August 2023. He was detained in al-Hair Prison, Riyadh, where he spent nine months before being sentenced in May 2024 to 10 years in prison, later reduced to eight years.

Amnesty International says Ahmed was convicted under Saudi Arabia’s terrorism legislation for social media posts relating to Egypt, Sudan, and Gaza. The group stressed that he was punished for exercising free expression and denied access to a fair trial.

During his detention, Ahmed missed the birth of his youngest child, who he has never met. His wife, Amaher Nour, who was pregnant at the time of his arrest, described the toll on their family:

“This past year without Ahmed has been unbearable for me and our children. Just yesterday, our daughter burst into tears saying she wanted her father. When I asked what gift she wanted for her birthday, she said: ‘I want Daddy.’ No words can express the heartbreak of raising four children alone while their father is unjustly imprisoned.”

She added that Ahmed is now on the brink of a hunger strike, raising fears for his health and safety.

Amnesty International UK has urged the British government to intervene more decisively. Sacha Deshmukh, the group’s Chief Executive, said:

“For one whole year, Ahmed al-Doush has been trapped in a living hell. UK officials should be doing everything they can to secure Ahmed’s release, but instead very little action is being taken.”

Ahmed’s lawyer, Haydee Dijkstra, also criticized the UK government’s handling of the case, describing the conviction as arbitrary detention and calling for urgent escalation at the highest diplomatic levels.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) confirmed that the UK is aware of the case, saying:

“We are supporting a British man who is detained in Saudi Arabia and are in contact with his family and the local authorities.”

However, campaigners and Ahmed’s family argue that stronger intervention is needed to secure his release.

Ahmed’s case has sparked outrage among human rights groups, who say it highlights the risks faced by foreign nationals under Saudi Arabia’s strict cybercrime and anti-terror laws.

For now, his family in Manchester continues to hope for his safe return, as his detention stretches into a second year.