Pilgrims and tourists detained in Saudi Arabia over online posts Submitted by Rayhan Uddin on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 15:30 Report documents cases of arrests and lengthy sentences due to social media expression, as wife of French detainee tells MEE her husband faces 'repeated abuses' Ahmed al-Doush, who was working for Bank of America at the time, was arrested in August 2024 at Riyadh airport over his social media usage (Supplied) Off People visiting Saudi Arabia for religious pilgrimages and tourism are being detained, subjected to unfair trials and sentenced to lengthy jail time over social media expression, according to a new report. Amnesty International and Alqst published a report this week looking into the cases of at least nine people, mostly from Middle East and Global South countries of origin, detained over online posts. The arrests took place between July 2022 and late last year. One of the cases was that of Amr Abdelfattah, a French father of three, who was detained in June 2024 whilst performing the annual Hajj pilgrimage. He was initially held for 11 months, before being put on trial in May 2025 over charges related to his online speech. Saudi authorities alleged that he had “insulted” the government and praised “prosecuted individuals”. He was also charged over a visa discrepancy - which Amnesty and Alqst noted usually only carried a fine or deportation , but not jail time. “My husband was arrested after falling victim to a common visa scam,” Abdelfattah’s wife told Middle East Eye. 'My husband was arrested after falling victim to a common visa scam' - Wife of Amr Abdelfattah “Instead of being fined and deported, he has spent two years in detention, where he has endured repeated abuse and faces additional charges over peaceful expression. “It's time for this ordeal to end and for our family to be reunited.” MEE has reached out to the Saudi embassy in London for comment. Another case relates to Ahmed al-Doush, a British national serving five years in a Saudi jail over his social media usage. Doush, who was working for Bank of America at the time, was arrested in August 2024 at Riyadh airport as he was set to return to the UK after visiting Saudi Arabia with his then-pregnant wife and children. He was detained over social media posts he had published before travelling to Saudi Arabia.