A prominent Saudi academic and preacher, Qassim al-Qathradi, died in prison in the southern city of Abha, local media and a rights group announced on Tuesday.
The Sanad human rights group confirmed his death and said al-Qathradi was arrested in 2021 in a crackdown targeting gatherings of intellectuals.
His eight-year prison sentence was based on charges of him possessing the books ‘So There Will be no Sedition' and ‘Existentialism’ by the late intellectual and former minister Ghazi al Gosaibi.
The books were used as alleged evidence of him engaging in the harming of national unity and social fabric.
Al-Qathradi, a retired professor at King Khalid University, was also charged with "supporting a terrorist ideology" and "concealing those who support it” as well as "seeking to disrupt public order and destabilise state security".
Al-Qathradi denied all charges under Articles 55 and 34 of the anti-terrorism law and said that the gathering he was present at was authorised. He also said the books were available in public libraries and were not banned in the country.
He pointed out that his arrest came before Articles 55 and 34 of the law were established.
In his trial sessions, he further said that having the books did not mean that he supported the author’s views.
Despite requests for his temporary release due to his elderly age and having many dependent family members, the judge rejected requests. Instead, he was handed an eight-year travel ban in addition to his prison sentence.
Online, many paid tribute to al-Qathradi and highlighted several recent deaths that have occurred within Saudi prisons.
"My dear brother and beloved Dr. Qasim bin Ahmed Al-Qathradi passed away while performing the noon prayer. We ask God Almighty to forgive our deceased, to grant him a place in His spacious gardens, to make his abode the highest paradise, to reward him for his good deeds with goodness…" one person wrote.
"…He was unjustly imprisoned because of his attendance at Sheikh Awad al-Qarni’s diwaniya…may God make his imprisonment and the harm that he experiences part of his good deeds and may his death be considered martyrdom…" another wrote, offering condolences to al-Qathradi’s family, relatives and colleagues.
Human rights activist Naser bin Awad al-Qarni offered his condolences, adding "because we are in a jungle, his arrest was retroactive".
The Sanad rights group condemned the imprisonment of al-Qathradi in a statement, writing that it holds "Saudi authorities – especially Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – fully responsible for his death in prison. Sanad strongly condemns the arbitrary detention and the unfair trial he endured".
"Sanad also reminds that Dr. al-Qathradi’s death adds to a tragic list of deaths inside Saudi prisons, including the deaths of prominent rights advocates such as Dr. Abdullah al-Hamid, Dr. Musa al-Qarni and others among prisoners of conscience."
A report from Human Rights Watch last year said that dozens of dissidents, human rights defenders and activists remain behind bars for criticising authorities or advocating for political reforms.
"Saudi authorities increasingly target Saudi and non-Saudi social media users for peaceful expression online and punish them with decades-long and even death sentences," the report states, citing several examples of individuals and activists that have been detained.