Abdullah al-Hamid

Who is Abdullah al-Hamid?

Abdullah Hamid Ali al-Hamid or "Abu Bilal" is a Saudi human rights activist and a co-founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association. He has been imprisoned several times for supporting the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Saudi Arabia.

In May 2005, Dr. Abdullah al-Hamid was sentenced to seven years in prison for “showing dissent and disobeying the ruler” after calling for reforms. He was pardoned and released on August 8, 2005.

In 2008, al-Hamid served a four-month prison term for “incitement to protest” after supporting a demonstration of women who were protesting the detention of relatives. The demonstration took place in front of Buraidah prison, in central Saudi Arabia. Demonstrations in Saudi's eastern province by members of the Shiite minority group calling for the release of prisoners have at times turned deadly.