Middle East Democracy Center

We work to free the unjustly detained and advocate for US policies that protect human rights & democracy in the MENA region. Formerly @POMED & @thefreedomi.

[Middle East Democracy Center @MideastDC]

Since October 7, 2023, the US has provided Israel with an extraordinary $21.7 billion in unconditioned military aid that has fueled the genocide in Gaza & attacks around the region.

What are Americans paying for? A breakdown⬇️

[Middle East Democracy Center @MideastDC]

🚨 NEW: We welcome the return of US citizen Saad Almadi to the US following the lifting of his travel ban by Saudi authorities.

We urge the Trump admin to secure the release of other US citizens wrongfully detained by US allies in the MENA. Read more ⬇️
https://t.co/PD4pWBmvlC

[عبدالله العودة Abdullah Alaoudh @aalodah]

Saudi Arabia’s violence against women isn’t culture – it’s policy — Morning Star, by: @maryam_dh https://t.co/WBd4NeiyPl #morningstaronline

[Middle East Democracy Center @MideastDC]

We are alarmed at reports that Syrian authorities will extradite Emirati political dissident Jassim al-Shamsi to the UAE where he could face torture, enforced disappearance or worse. Syrian authorities must reveal his whereabouts & immediately release him. https://t.co/aOwAIkBNIa

[مركز مناصرة معتقلي الإمارات @EDAC_Rights]

بيان حول التطورات في قضية المختفي قسرياً جاسم راشد الشامسي

لقد وصل إلى مركز مناصرة معتقلي الإمارات، عبر مصادر متعددة داخل سوريا وقريبة من دوائر صنع القرار، أن القيادة السورية اتخذت بالفعل قرارها بالمضي نحو تسليم الناشط الإماراتي جاسم راشد الشامسي إلى دولة الإمارات. هذه المعلومات ترفع بشكل خطير من مستوى القلق حول مصيره، وتجعل التدخل العاجل ضرورة قصوى لمنع حدوث انتهاك قد لا يمكن التراجع عنه.

يأتي ذلك في وقت ما يزال فيه الشامسي مختفياً قسرياً منذ اعتقاله في 6 نوفمبر 2025، مع استمرار حرمان أسرته من معرفة مكانه أو وضعه القانوني، وغياب أي تواصل معه، ما يشكل انتهاكاً واضحاً للمعايير الدولية.

إن تسليم الشامسي، المطلوب في قضايا سياسية ويواجه خطراً حقيقياً بالتعذيب والإخفاء عند إعادته، سيُعد انتهاكاً صارخاً لمبدأ عدم الإعادة القسرية واتفاقية مناهضة التعذيب، كما سيشكّل سابقة خطيرة تمس الحقوق الأساسية للأفراد المعرّضين للاضطهاد السياسي.

وعليه، يدعو المركز السلطات السورية إلى:
- وقف أي إجراءات قد تمهّد لتسليمه،
- الكشف الفوري عن مكان احتجازه،
- توضيح الأساس القانوني لاستمرار احتجازه.

كما يطالب المركز المنظمات الدولية والحقوقية، ومؤسسات المجتمع المدني السوري والشعب السوري بالتحرك الفوري لمنع أي خطوة قد تعرّض حياة الشامسي وسلامته للخطر.

مركز مناصرة معتقلي الإمارات
22 نوفمبر 2025

[Senator Chris Van Hollen @ChrisVanHollen]

Israel has held 16-year-old American, Mohammed Ibrahim, without trial, for 9 months.

He has been denied contact with family & his health is deteriorating. He says he falsely confessed to throwing a rock after being beaten.

America needs to secure his release NOW.

[Sam Dagher @samdagher]

Opponents of MBS in the US will intensify their efforts to link all agreements with #SaudiArabia to progress on human rights and the release of political prisoners.

“I am hopeful, but I am not stupid because I know the Saudi government has the upper hand in terms of money, power and influence,” @aalodah told me in an interview in DC. “But what we have is the right narrative that we think represents the Saudi people and also serves the general public of the US” 3/4
Read more here: https://t.co/KdfO38ENSW

[Middle East Democracy Center @MideastDC]

Read these stories and more in this week’s Gulf Dispatch, MEDC’s weekly newsletter covering human rights & democracy updates from across the Gulf: https://t.co/7O2KknrjYj

📢 Like what you read? Subscribe to the Gulf Dispatch here: https://t.co/zRtvhFPgTB

[Middle East Democracy Center @MideastDC]

📰 In this week’s Gulf Dispatch, we cover MBS’ shameful visit to Washington and Saad Almadi’s return to the United States after 4+ trapped in #SaudiArabia.

Here’s a roundup of this week’s newsletter ⬇️
https://t.co/7O2KknrjYj

[Middle East Democracy Center @MideastDC]

And on Thursday, US citizen Saad Almadi - who spent nearly two years in prison & more than 2 more years unjustly trapped in #SaudiArabia over tweets - finally returned home to the United States.

[Middle East Democracy Center @MideastDC]

“The change in Saudi Arabia seems to be from killing journalists behind closed doors to executing them in plain sight,” said MEDC’s @aalodah.
https://t.co/hub6n74SCX

[عبدالله العودة Abdullah Alaoudh @aalodah]

“The fact he was able to come to Washington and to be received at the White House was a win for him,” said Abdullah Alaoudh, a Washington-based Saudi human rights advocate. “But the trip so far has failed on a strategic level.”
https://t.co/CGZYfX2ufT

[Middle East Democracy Center @MideastDC]

Saad Almadi is FREE and finally reunited with his family! 🕊️

It's time for #SaudiArabia to free all political prisoners. #FreeThemAll
https://t.co/mUkUVrtCf6

[Almadi Ibrahim Saad @IbrahimSAlmadi]

Welcome home Saad Almadi

[Middle East Democracy Center @MideastDC]

MEDC's @aalodah tells @nytimes that it was “sickening” to watch Trump dismiss the US intelligence assessment about Khashoggi’s murder.

“I don’t think there is any statesmanship in either of these responses, just hypocrisy from both sides,” he said.
https://t.co/hN1aj2u0T1

[Middle East Democracy Center @MideastDC]

“The fact he was able to come to Washington and to be received at the White House was a win for him,” said MEDC's @aalodah. “But the trip so far has failed on a strategic level.” https://t.co/UBFO8dvjKB

[Chris Murphy 🟧 @ChrisMurphyCT]

The relationship with Saudi Arabia is a business transaction. Trump gives the Saudis national security favors - access to our most sensitive technology and weapons - and the Saudis make Trump personally rich.

It's old school corruption. Being normalized in front of our eyes.

[Senator Tim Kaine @SenTimKaine]

Yesterday, Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval and defended him when he was asked about Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. Disgusting. I'm speaking on the floor now about my legislation demanding accountability from the Saudi government. https://t.co/Fx4AzmO2Nw

[Middle East Democracy Center @MideastDC]

President Trump says MBS has been "incredible" on human rights. Tell that to the American family of humanitarian aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan who was arrested, forcibly disappeared, tortured & sentenced to 20 years in prison over satirical tweets - all under MBS' watch.

[Almadi Ibrahim Saad @IbrahimSAlmadi]

My father, Saad Almadi, is finally on his way to the United States.

This would not have been possible without the dedication of the Trump administration, @SebGorka, the incredible teams at @JamesFoleyFund & @HostagesAmerica, @MideastDC, and the courageous voices of @joshrogin & @stevennelson10 — along with many friends whose names must remain private.

[Middle East Democracy Center @MideastDC]

@IbrahimSAlmadi @SebGorka @JamesFoleyFund @HostagesAmerica @joshrogin You were an incredible advocate for your father who never stopped fighting for his full freedom! We are so elated & relieved that you and your father will finally be reunited 🙏