Saudi Arabia has executed journalist and writer Turki Al-Jasser, nearly seven years after his forced disappearance, in a move that has drawn sharp condemnation from press freedom and human rights organizations.

 According to Saudi authorities, Al-Jasser was sentenced to death on charges of “high treason” and allegedly collaborating with foreign entities to destabilize the country. The execution, which took place on Saturday, is believed to be the first confirmed case of a journalist being executed in the Kingdom.

 The announcement came without prior notice to Al-Jasser’s family or the public. No independent information has been made available about the trial proceedings or whether he was granted a final visit with his relatives. The Saudi government claims the sentence was upheld by three levels of courts and approved by royal decree.

 The organization Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) condemned the execution as “a deeply disturbing escalation” and an assault on press freedom. “We had hoped Turki Al-Jasser would one day walk free,” the group said in a statement. “Instead, his secret execution sends a terrifying signal to all political prisoners and critics of the regime—inside and outside Saudi Arabia.”

 Al-Jasser was arrested in March 2018 amid a sweeping crackdown on dissidents that followed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s consolidation of power. Two years later, rumors of his death under torture emerged, prompting Saudi authorities to allow a brief phone call with his family in 2020. That was the last confirmed contact before his sudden execution.

 Rights advocates argue that the charges against Al-Jasser reflect a broader pattern of abuse. “Treason,” “espionage,” and “threats to national security” have frequently been used by Saudi courts as vague and politically motivated accusations against journalists, reformists, and human rights activists.

WJWC says Al-Jasser’s death cannot be separated from Saudi Arabia’s larger crackdown on freedom of expression. The group is calling for an independent international investigation, including a forensic autopsy and full review of his case.

“There must be a United Nations-led fact-finding mission,” WJWC demanded, “to uncover the truth behind Al-Jasser’s death and the fate of many others who have vanished inside the Kingdom’s prisons.”

The group also renewed calls on Saudi Arabia to allow international observers access to detention facilities and to take immediate steps to release all journalists imprisoned for their work or opinions.

Among WJWC’s key demands:

·         Cease all forms of persecution and judicial harassment of journalists and activists.

·         Reveal the fate of all political detainees and ensure fair and public trials.

·         Immediately and unconditionally release all journalists held for their reporting or views.

·         Ensure a safe and independent media environment without fear of retaliation.

Al-Jasser’s case comes nearly seven years after the gruesome murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose death inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul shocked the world. For many observers, the killing of Al-Jasser serves as another stark reminder of the dangers faced by anyone who dares to speak out against the Kingdom’s leadership.

Despite efforts to project an image of social and economic reform, Saudi Arabia continues to maintain one of the most repressive environments for journalists in the world.

“The regime wants the world to believe in its vision of openness,” said WJWC. “But the silence surrounding the fate of Turki Al-Jasser—and the cruelty of his death—shows what really lies beneath.”