Ali al-Nimr, Jailed Saudi Protester As of tomorrow, Ali al-Nimr—imprisoned since the tender age of 17—will have been in prison for eight years, six of those on death row. He is one of thousands of political prisoners in Saudi Arabia, many of whom, like Ali, were arrested as children for the “crime” of protesting for democracy. Sign our petition demanding Mike Pompeo use his influence to advocate for Ali’s release.

Dear John,

Tomorrow marks six years since then 17-year-old Ali al-Nimr was sentenced to death for the crime of protesting for democracy in Saudi Arabia during the Arab Spring. We at CODEPINK haven’t forgotten about him and haven’t stopped campaigning for his release.

Watch the video of Ali before his arrest and his family’s plea. Then sign our petition asking Mike Pompeo to demand his release, alongside all other Saudi political prisoners!

Ali was just a teenager when he was arrested and he has spent over eight years in prison. His mother describes what he was like before arrest and prison: “There is no place in Ali’s heart for despair. He has always been optimistic and smiling. He enjoyed reading and photography and spent most of the day keeping, cleaning, and feeding birds. He didn’t like to keep them inside the cage – he used to set them free to fly around the yard without anyone annoying them.”

During the Arab Spring protests of 2012, the Saudi regime accused him of using his cell phone to encourage others to join him in peaceful resistance. For this, he was sentenced to death and his mother described feeling that a “thunderbolt was hitting my head.” Thankfully, Saudi Arabia has recently announced they will no longer impose the death penalty on anyone who committed a crime as a minor. This change is certainly great progress, but we can’t stop here.

Ali and the thousands of political prisoners like him deserve not just to have their death sentences commuted. They deserve freedom. Just a few months ago, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo toured Saudi Arabia, but advocating for political prisoners wasn’t on the agenda as he rubbed noses with the largest purchaser of US instruments of death. The anniversary of Ali’s sentencing serves as a harrowing reminder of the country’s many human rights abuses and why the U.S. must sever its relationship until there is real substantial change.

On the anniversary, of Ali’s arrest, show that you haven’t forgotten about him: tell Mike Pompeo: Ali al-Nimr doesn’t deserve to spend a single day more in prison. Demand his freedom and the freedom of Saudi political prisoners now! 

Ali al-Nimr has spent every day of the past eight years behind bars—the first two awaiting trial and sentencing and then the past six on death row. Throughout these years, he has been enduring torture and isolation. But perhaps the most tragic thing about Ali’s case is that he is merely one of the thousands of political prisoners in Saudi Arabia, many of whom were arrested and sentenced for “crimes” that they committed as minors.

Fighting for human rights is never a crime. Now, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman recently issued a royal decree abolishing executions for prisoners who committed crimes as minors, is the perfect time to keep the momentum going by pressuring Mike Pompeo to use his influence to demand the release of Ali and all political prisoners in Saudi Arabia.

Tell Mike Pompeo: Ali al-Nimr doesn’t deserve to spend a single day more in prison. Demand the freedom of Saudi political prisoners now! 

We have been fighting for Ali’s freedom ever since he was arrested. Eight years later, we haven’t given up. We hope you will join us in our fight for justice for political prisoners.

With hope and determination,
Medea, Ariel, Ann, Asia, Carley, Caty, Cody, Emily, Jodie, Kelsey, Leonardo, Makena,  Michelle, Nancy, Paki, Teri, and Yousef

P.S. Saudi Arabia really hates their crimes being exposed to the world on social media. So, tomorrow at 3:00 PM ET will be hosting a Twitter storm calling for Ali’s freedom. Watch for the email we will send you with sample one-click tweets, graphics, and more.

For more information:

• Case report from Reprieve US
• “My heart is exhausted”: A mother’s story of death row in Saudi Arabia