Saudi-American Saad Al-Madhi Released and Returns to U.S. After Royal Pardon
After Four Years Detained in Saudi Arabia, Al-Madhi Freed Following King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Intervention
Saudi authorities have allowed their citizen Saad Al-Madhi, who holds American citizenship, to return to the United States after receiving a royal pardon from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, overturning his prison sentence and travel ban.
Al-Madhi’s release comes following Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the U.S. and his meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.
Saad Al-Madhi Freed After U.S. Diplomatic Intervention
Al-Madhi was arrested in 2021 upon arriving in Riyadh to visit his family, due to tweets criticizing the Saudi government. He was later convicted of attempting to destabilize the kingdom and supporting and funding terrorism. He was initially sentenced to 16 years in prison, but the appeals court increased the sentence to 19 years.
Ibrahim, Saad Al-Madhi’s son, told CNN that the Trump administration helped secure his father’s release and thanked U.S. officials for assisting in his return.
“They fulfilled their promises regarding my father’s situation,” he said, noting that his father was released under a pardon from the King and Crown Prince. When asked whether the release was connected to the Crown Prince’s U.S. visit this week, he replied, “Definitely… and I am extremely grateful to the Trump administration and the State Department.”
Return to the U.S.
According to CNN, Saad Al-Madhi, 75, who was detained in Saudi Arabia for four years, has returned to American soil.
He was sentenced to 16 years in prison for tweets criticizing the Saudi government in 2022. Although released in 2023, he remained in Riyadh under a travel ban while his family continued to negotiate with the U.S. government for his return.
Al-Madhi’s release coincided with President Trump meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and hosting him at a U.S.-Saudi investment conference in Washington, D.C.
Trump, actively seeking to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia during his second term, held a generous state visit on Tuesday for the Crown Prince, praising his “remarkable” record on human rights.
