Saudi Journalist Executed After Secret Trial on Terrorism and Treason Charges

Turki al-Jasser

Saudi Arabia has executed prominent journalist Turki Al-Jasser, who was arrested in 2018 on charges of terrorism and treason, sparking international condemnation from human rights and press freedom groups. Al-Jasser, believed to be in his late 40s, was put to death on Saturday following the upholding of his death sentence by the kingdom’s highest court.

Authorities arrested Al-Jasser during a raid on his home in 2018, seizing his computer and mobile phones. The Saudi government alleged that Al-Jasser was operating a controversial social media account on X (formerly Twitter) that published corruption allegations against members of the Saudi royal family, as well as commentary on militant groups.

Details surrounding Al-Jasser’s trial remain unclear, including the location, the duration, and the transparency of the proceedings. Human rights groups argue that his conviction was politically motivated and lacked due process.

Turki Al-Jasser had previously gained recognition for his bold articles covering the Arab Spring uprisings, women’s rights, and corruption across the Middle East. He also maintained a personal blog between 2013 and 2015, earning a reputation for his critical commentary and independent voice.

International advocacy organizations sharply criticized the execution. Carlos Martínez de la Serna, program director for the Committee to Protect Journalists, condemned the killing and linked it to the lack of international accountability for the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. “The international community’s failure to deliver justice for Jamal Khashoggi did not just betray one journalist,” Martínez said. “It emboldened Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to continue his persecution of the press.”

Jeed Basyouni, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Reprieve, denounced the secretive nature of the trial and the severity of the sentence. “Turki Al-Jasser was tried and convicted in total secrecy for the ‘crime’ of journalism,” Basyouni said. “His execution once again demonstrates that in Saudi Arabia, the punishment for criticizing or questioning Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is death.”

Saudi Arabia has faced mounting criticism from human rights organizations over its use of capital punishment, including mass executions and beheadings. In 2024 alone, the number of executions in the kingdom surged to 330, according to rights groups, as authorities intensify their crackdown on dissent and free speech.

In recent years, several individuals have been imprisoned or sentenced in Saudi Arabia over social media activity. In 2021, dual Saudi-American citizen Saad Almadi was arrested for tweets posted while living in the United States. He was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison on terrorism-related charges, though he was released in 2023 with a travel ban still in place. Just last month, a British Bank of America analyst received a 10-year prison sentence, reportedly due to a deleted social media post.

The execution of Al-Jasser adds to growing concerns about the kingdom’s human rights record and its increasingly authoritarian stance toward political speech and journalism.