Ibrahim al-Sakran
Sheikh Ibrahim al-Sakran | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 4, 1976 |
| Education | King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (one year)
College of Sharia, Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University (BA) Higher Institute of The Judiciary of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University (MA in Sharia politics) University of Essex (MA in international trade law) |
| Occupations | Islamic scholar, writer, researcher, lawyer, thinker |
| Criminal penalty | 5 years of prison |
| Criminal status | Released in 2025; subject to travel ban, media ban, and publishing restrictions |
Sheikh Ibrahim al-Sakran (born 4 April 1976) is a Saudi Arabian Islamic scholar, writer, researcher, lawyer and thinker.
He was sentenced to five years in prison following his 2016 arrest. He was released in 2020 after serving approximately four years, but was rearrested shortly thereafter.Al-Sakran remained in detention until his release in 2025, after which he has been subject to restrictions including a travel ban, prohibition on media appearances, and a ban on publishing.[1]
Education
He entered the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and studied for one year and then left the university and went to the College of Sharia at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh. After graduation he obtained a master's degree in Sharia politics from the Higher Institute of The Judiciary of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, then he went to the United Kingdom and received a master's degree in international trade law at the University of Essex in Colchester.[2]
Arrest
In June 2016, Sheikh al-Sakran was arrested at his home in Riyadh by Saudi officials and sentenced to five years of prison. He was then released in 2020 after four years of prison and was rearrested shortly in 2020 after the release.[3][4][5]
Following his release in May 2020 after serving part of his five-year sentence, Al-Sakran was rearrested less than a month later without new formal charges or trial.[6] Human rights organizations described the continued detention beyond the original sentence as arbitrary and in violation of international standards.[7] He was released in 2025, but remains under strict post-release conditions, including a travel ban, a prohibition from appearing in media, and restrictions on publishing his work.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Release of Islamic Thinker Ibrahim Al-Sakran After Years of Arbitrary Detention". Sanad Organization. 29 June 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ^ "Ibrahim Al-Sakran: A Journey Between Liberalism, Salafism, Prison, and "Freedom"". Saudi News. May 1, 2020.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia re-arrested Sheikh Ibrahim al-Sakran". Saudi News. 24 July 2020.
- ^ "من هو الشيخ إبراهيم السكران الذي أُفيد بإطلاق سراحه من سجن سعودي؟". BBC News عربي.
- ^ "إبراهيم السكران.. الليبرالي الذي تحول للتدين فسجنه بن سلمان". Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ "Release of Islamic Thinker Ibrahim Al-Sakran After Years of Arbitrary Detention". Sanad Organization. 29 June 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ^ "More than 3000 Days Spent by Thinker Ibrahim Al-Sakran Behind Bars". Sanad Organization. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ^ "Release of Islamic Thinker Ibrahim Al-Sakran After Years of Arbitrary Detention". Sanad Organization. 29 June 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.