'My husband's in jail in Saudi Arabia while my kids make Father's Day cards at home'

Ahmed al-Doush's wife says she's 'completely disillusioned' with the government in the UK and in Saudi Arabia

The wife of a Manchester man who has been jailed for 10 years in Saudi Arabia - reportedly over a social media post he made seven years ago - says she's 'completely disillusioned' with the government there and in the UK.

Dad-of-four Ahmed al-Doush, 41, a banking business analyst of Sudanese heritage, was jailed in May after being held for nine months in al-Hair Prison in the capital, Riyadh. Mr al-Doush was first detained there on August 31 last year as he prepared to fly home with his family following a holiday.

His wife, Amaher Nour, who was pregnant with their fourth child at the time, was allowed to return to the UK, but her husband was arrested.

During interrogations, he was reportedly told that if not for his social media activity, he would be home with his family.

Mr al-Doush has 41 followers on his X account. According to reports from his family the tweet, written in 2018 and since deleted, is thought to have related to the war in Sudan, which provided military support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen.

His wife issued a heartbreaking statement after MPs met to discuss the case in London on Monday (June 16). In it, she said their children have made Father's Day cards for him and told how she's 'exhausted' with the situation.

Mr al-Doush's legal team, meanwhile, said he was 'isolated' and called on the UK government 'to become more vocal about his case and seek clarity around his charges'.

They said the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) 'do not have full clarity on the bases of conviction', but was 'refusing to make a firm statement publicly, or take a position on the concerns in his case'.

In her statement, Amaher Nour said: "Frankly, I have no faith in the Saudi government to deliver justice in the appeal. I'm completely disillusioned with both the Saudi and UK governments on every level. The children have been making Father's Day cards at school, at a time when other families are celebrating it’s incredibly painful for them, especially as we prepare to mark Eid without their father once again.

"They're really struggling. I'm exhausted, too. The pressure is relentless, not just emotionally, but physically and mentally. Honestly, I'm so overwhelmed that I struggle to even speak about it anymore. At the heart of it all, what matters most is that my husband, the father of my children, is still not home. None of the efforts so far have brought him back."

The exact reason for his detention and imprisonment remains unclear. Human rights group Amnesty International said Mr al-Doush was subjected to extensive interrogation without a lawyer present and before being informed of the charges against him.

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All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are informal groups of members from both the House of Commons and Lords. The APPG on Arbitrary Detention and Hostage Affairs said it held the hearing on Mr al-Doush as part of its inquiry into British citizens arbitrarily detained by foreign governments.

Testimony was given by the family's barrister, Haydee Dijkstal; Dan Dolan, interim deputy executive director at Reprieve, which defends people facing human rights abuses; and Eilidh Macpherson, campaigner manager for individuals at Risk at Amnesty International.

The group said witnesses spoke of a 'lack of urgent response from the UK Government to the arbitrary arrest and detention of Ahmed al-Doush, which has now resulted in his sentencing for 10 years imprisonment on charges under Saudi Arabia's Anti-Terrorism legislation for social media post which have not been disclosed'.

They also called on the UK government to 'publicly take a stance that he is being arbitrarily detained due to his detention being based on the exercise of his right to free expression' - and call for his immediate release.

A lack of support being given to the family was also highlighted. British officials were said to have been refused consular access.

Barrister Ms Dijkstal said: "Ahmed's family contacted the FCDO within a day or so of not knowing where he was located. For two-and-a-half months, they were told the FCDO cannot share information with the family because the UK cannot get consular access to the family.

"This very much impacted the family, but also their ability to make sure his rights were being upheld. It is well documented that the ability of families to get information is a method of ensuring and monitoring a detained person's treatment and rights.

"We questioned in our correspondence with the FCDO - what is the policy and contingency plan for when the data protection policies that are meant to protect the individual actually harms their rights?

"What we would like to see is the UK government taking a position on arbitrary detention, or at least say that there is concern. Even to do that, we haven't had any traction or willingness.

"We don't even have the judgment, the UK government has confirmed they do not have full clarity on the bases of conviction, but at the same time, is refusing to make a firm statement publicly, or take a position on the concerns in his case.

"The response that we are getting is that the UK government is unable to force the Saudi government to give a copy of the judgment or share evidence."

Ms Dijkstal said Mr al-Doush was told by the prison in January he was not allowed to speak to his family about any details of the case or he would be punished and lose access to his loved ones.

She said that has had 'a very chilling effect on his ability to give his family updates, and for us to receive this as well'. "Hesitation to publicly state and take a position on human rights violations to the point where it gets to arbitrary detention, leaves a citizen vulnerable," the barrister added.

Reprieve confirmed the 10 years sentence, but said the death penalty 'was absolutely on the table based on the statute being used'.

"The UK has diplomatic relations [with Saudi Arabia] where it can make clear statements and secure results. Were the Foreign Secretary to get involved, then that would show it is a priority," said Mr Dolan. "Ahmed al-Doush is arbitrarily detained, and the appropriate remedy is that he should be returned to his family."

The APPG is chaired by Alicia Kearns MP, with its vice chairs Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, Brendan O’Hara MP and Tim Roca MP.

The government cannot secure the release of British nationals from detention overseas, or interfere with the judicial systems of another country. The case has been raised by a Government minister on several occasions with their counterpart in Saudi Arabia.

A FCDO spokesperson said: "We are supporting a British man who is detained in Saudia Arabia and are in contact with his family and the local authorities."