Key Takeaways
- Sheikh Al-Talib imprisoned since 2018 for sermon content.
- Released but confined to house arrest with ankle monitor.
- Previously sentenced to 10 years for criticizing entertainment authority.
Saudi authorities have released Sheikh Saleh Al-Talib, a former imam of Makkah’s Grand Mosque, after detaining him for more than seven years.
The prominent scholar’s imprisonment began in August 2018 following a sermon where he emphasized the Islamic duty to speak against wrongdoing. His comments specifically criticized the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority and opposed mixed-gender events.
The advocacy group Prisoners of Conscience confirmed Al-Talib’s release in a social media post, noting he remains under house arrest and must wear electronic ankle monitors.
No formal charges were ever publicly disclosed against the scholar, though authorities arrested him shortly after his controversial sermon. In 2022, the Specialised Criminal Appeals Court in Riyadh sentenced him to ten years in prison, overturning a previous acquittal.
Sheikh Al-Talib gained international recognition for his Quran recitations and sermons, building a substantial online following with millions of viewers. Before his detention, he served as a judge in Makkah, Riyadh, and other regions.
Born in 1974, he comes from the Huwtat Bani Taimi family, known for contributions to Islamic scholarship and judicial sciences.
His release follows similar cases, including teacher Asaad bin Nasser Al-Ghamdi, who was freed earlier this year after two years in detention for social media posts.
Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman assumed leadership in 2017, Saudi Arabia has increased arrests of religious figures, activists, and government critics.
The General Entertainment Authority, which Al-Talib criticized, has been central to efforts diversifying the country’s entertainment options as part of broader economic reforms.
The precise conditions of Al-Talib’s house arrest remain unclear, including its expected duration and specific limitations.
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