Miami (AP) – Florida retiree has been found guilty of cybercrimes He stopped leaving Saudi Arabia Until coming through social media posts critical of the kingdom’s crown prince, according to the man’s son.
Saad Almadi, 75, was found guilty of distributing online content that undermines public order, according to a September 14 ruling provided by her son. The previously unreported conviction has been sentenced to three years in prison, but after being arrested in 2021, Almadi has been added to the prison after spending more than a year behind bars.
Instead, Almadi blocks him from leaving the kingdom until March. The Saudi Arabian government, which did not respond to requests for comment, does not recognize double citizenship and regularly Rejected criticism of the actionsthey say it is part of a multi-year crackdown on corruption, terrorism and other security threats.
The verdict comes after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave it A gorgeous welcome To President Donald Trump during a May trip to Saudi Arabia, the leading US strategic partner. The Crown Prince’s reputation was built on efforts to re-engage with the kingdom after being badly damaged by the US Intelligence news decision that he likely ordered 2018 The murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Prince Mohammed denies his involvement.
The son believes that domination appears to keep his father quiet
Almadi’s son, Ibrahim Almadi, says he believes the sentence is intended to encourage his family — and a few other Americans facing a similar exit ban — To keep quiet And don’t get in the way of the Crown Prince’s diplomatic comeback.
“The government continues to change its minds and every time it does, there are no consequences,” he said in an interview.
Elder Almadi, a retired project manager who moved to the United States in the 1970s, was arrested when he arrived in Saudi Arabia on what appears to be a short trip to see his family. Authorities confronted him in tweets he posted over the past few years.
Almadi has been sentenced to more than 19 years in prison for terrorist accusations stemming from the tweet. Saudi Arabia released him more than a year later, dropping the terrorist charges but imposed an exit ban that would prevent him from returning to his home in Boca Raton near Miami.
The Associated Press reported in January that Saudi officials were putting pressure on Elder Almadi. waives his American citizenship.
I made a card Make Americans that foreign enemies have as their top priorityalmost silent. When asked about the incident in May by a reporter, he said he didn’t know about it but promised to take a look. A few weeks later, one of his national security aides, Sebastian Gorka, met with the young Almadi at the White House.
The US State Department said it monitored the case of Elder Almadi, provided appropriate consular services and was in contact with his family, but declined to provide further comment, citing privacy considerations. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump deepens ties with Saudi Arabia
Trump has stepped up his efforts to bury him during the Biden administration since returning to the White House Criticism of Saudi Arabia’s royal family Over allegations of their involvement in the murder of Khashoggi within the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
When he visited Riyadh in May, Trump described Prince Mohammed as “an incredible man” and “my friend.” Trump’s Family has extensive business transactions Voters brought him back to the White House, deepening alongside the world’s top oil exporters.
In April, Trump’s organization signed a contract with a developer close to DAR Global, based in London, a Saudi royal family. Build a Trump branded beachside villa An 18-hole golf course in nearby Qatar. Trump organization is also affiliated with the company Luxury skyscrapers An apartment in the coastal city of Jeddah, a project announced in December last year.
A private equity company controlled by Trump’s son-in-law and former White House advisor Jared Kushner Received a $2 billion investment From a sovereign wealth fund managed by the Crown Prince.
Abdullah Alaud, senior director of the Center for Democracy, a Washington-based human rights organization, is tracking the incidents of Americans during Saudi Arabia’s exit ban. He said he knew four other people: four American citizens, two double American citizens and four US green card holders.
Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producer in the Middle East. He is also a key player in regional conflicts involving Iran and Yemen, and the major award of the US efforts to normalize relations with Israel under the Abrahamian agreement – the achievement of distinctive foreign policy during Trump’s first term.
