Hatem Al-Najjar, a Palestinian journalist and presenter of the Muraba podcast in Saudi Arabia was arrested by Saudi authorities on January 14, 2024 following a social media campaign, backed by pro-government accounts, calling for his arrest or dismissal, citing decade-old tweets perceived as critical of Saudi Arabia.
According to information CPJ received from the Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC), a U.S.-based nonprofit that works with the people of the Middle East and North Africa to challenge authoritarian systems, Al-Najjar was taken into custody the same night he published an apology to Saudi authorities, under pressure from his employer, podcast company Thmanyah. He was later dismissed from his position at Thmanyah.
The journalist is held at Dhahban General Investigation Prison, near Jeddah. He has not been formally charged, has been denied access to legal counsel, and his family has been granted only a few brief visits. His health has deteriorated during his detention and he has had noticeable weight loss, according to the information from the MEDC.
CPJ emailed the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington, D.C., seeking comment on Al-Najjar’s detention but did not receive a response.