Saudi Amnesty Offer to Exiled Dissidents Faces Skepticism

In a rare move, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has invited exiled dissidents to return home without facing "punishment," provided they have committed no crimes. The unexpected offer has raised questions about its timing and underlying motives.

The call comes as around 150 political detainees remain behind bars in Saudi Arabia, many imprisoned since 2017. Among them are prominent clerics, academics, journalists, bloggers, and human rights activists, some handed lengthy sentences.

Saudi Amnesty Offer

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Saudi Arabia has extended an invitation to exiled dissidents, assuring them they can return to the kingdom without facing punishment. The message, reportedly a direct directive from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was conveyed by Abdulaziz bin Mohammed al-Howairini, the head of the Saudi State Security agency.

Speaking in an interview with Saudi-owned MBC on 2 March 2025, al-Howairini stated that the crown prince had "issued a pardon" for those he described as having been "misled" into opposing the kingdom from abroad.

"This invitation is open to all those who were exploited by malicious actors, received financial backing at some stage, or were otherwise deceived," he said.

However, the amnesty does not extend to individuals involved in serious crimes such as murder, theft, or physical assault. 

"If you have no outstanding personal claims against you—no cases of murder, theft, or assault—and you were simply misled, then the state welcomes you back and will not punish you," al-Howairini added.

He further stated that those wishing to return could contact Saudi embassies abroad, which have been informed of the initiative, or reach out to relevant authorities or family members in the kingdom.

A senior Saudi security official has claimed that around 20% of detainees in the kingdom were arrested either at the request of their families or in coordination with them. 

Abdulaziz bin Mohammed al-Howairini, head of the State Security agency, suggested that families had increasingly come to see the state as rehabilitative rather than punitive, as long as individuals remained in what he termed the "idea stage."

However, al-Howairini made no mention of political prisoners, some of whom have been detained under harsh conditions since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was appointed heir to the throne in 2017.

Saudi Arabia’s human rights record has deteriorated significantly under bin Salman, who is widely regarded as the kingdom’s de facto ruler due to the ongoing health issues of King Salman and his prolonged absence from public life.

In 2020, a coalition of 29 countries urged Saudi Arabia at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to release all political dissidents and women’s rights activists. The same nations also condemned Riyadh’s human rights violations, including the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Dissidents Reject Amnesty

Saudi opposition figures have responded with skepticism to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's amnesty offer, arguing that their exile was not a matter of personal choice but driven by systemic issues, including a lack of freedoms, corruption, and what they describe as a "war on Islamic values."

Prominent dissident Saad al-Faqih rejected the notion that opposition figures should seek forgiveness, insisting that it is bin Salman and his inner circle—whom he accuses of committing crimes—who should seek pardon from those they have oppressed.

“The ones who should be asking for forgiveness are those who killed, tortured, and violated people’s rights—not the opposition figures who have sacrificed their lives, time, and effort for the country. They are not in a position to be granted forgiveness,” al-Faqih said.

He further stated that the amnesty would be meaningless unless accompanied by genuine reforms, including the release of all political prisoners, the restoration of public freedoms, and the establishment of independent political forums and civil society organizations.

In a video posted on X on 3 March, Al-Faqih acknowledged that the offer might appeal to those struggling with life in exile, but he asserted that “the majority will not be swayed by it.”

Exiled Saudi dissident Omar al-Zahrani, who resides in Canada, has dismissed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s amnesty offer, stating that he and other prominent opposition figures will not return. 

He argued that the initiative primarily targets newer dissidents or individuals living abroad who fear repercussions if they return to the kingdom.

In a video posted on X on 3 March, al-Zahrani expressed deep skepticism about the offer, citing his own experience with the crown prince. 

He pointed out that his brothers and friends have been imprisoned since 2018 as a means of pressuring him to return, reinforcing his doubts about the sincerity of the invitation.

Al-Zahrani suggested that the move is likely part of a broader effort by Saudi authorities to improve the country’s human rights image in a bid to attract foreign investment.

Similarly, Nasser al-Qarni, the son of jailed cleric Awad al-Qarni, noted in a post on X on 3 March that the Saudi government’s call for dissidents to return implicitly acknowledges the scale of opposition abroad.

“For years, the government ignored and downplayed the influence of exiled opposition figures,” he wrote. “But now, after dismissing them for so long, we see outreach efforts starting with public figures like former actor Fayez al-Malki, then through social media accounts, and now reaching the highest levels of power with bin Salman and al-Howairini.”

In the same context, Saudi opposition figure Colonel Rabih Alenezi stated that "imprisoning people for 30 or 40 years just for posting tweets on X, then inviting exiled dissidents to return, is foolish and ridiculous."

He pointed out in a video on X on March 4 that a serious and genuine offer should be preceded by the enactment of laws and regulations that allow freedom of expression and the ability to criticize officials and decisions.

While some describe Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's invitation as rare and historic, Saudi international relations researcher Ahmed al-Shehri believes it is not new, as Saudi Arabia has "always extended a hand to its children" in the opposition abroad, inviting them to return home, according to him.

Speaking to BBC on March 4, al-Shehri said, "Those who carried arms, killed, bombed, and joined terrorist organizations have returned to their country, where they were welcomed at the airport and reunited with their families."

"They were offered employment opportunities, marriage facilitation, and were treated like ordinary citizens, fully integrated into Saudi society," he added.

Al-Shehri added that returnees deemed to show signs of “extremism” are enrolled in the government’s Munasaha program, which provides ideological rehabilitation through religious and counterterrorism counseling. 

He further claimed that opposition figures abroad were being “exploited by anti-Saudi entities through unethical means.”

Meanwhile, Sultan Alamer, an academic based in the United States who has been critical of Saudi policies but does not identify as an opposition figure, suggested that bin Salman’s initiative—delivered through security chief Abdulaziz al-Howairini—appears credible. 

He described it as an opportunity for those struggling with life in exile and willing to abandon political activism in exchange for a fresh start.

“There is no doubt that recent efforts to resolve detainee cases and engage with external opposition are positive and welcome developments,” Alamer said. 

However, he cautioned that a fundamental issue remains unchanged: “The level of intellectual and political freedoms in our country is still alarmingly low.”

There are no official figures on the number of Saudi dissidents living abroad, but estimates suggest they are in the thousands—and growing.

The majority of exiled opposition figures reside in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and various European countries.

Many of the Saudi dissidents living abroad are activists, journalists, academics, or members of political opposition groups who fled their country due to what they describe as political persecution, death threats, or the risk of imprisonment.

The roots of Saudi opposition date back to the 1950s, spanning religious, political, and even social and cultural movements. 

Opposition activity gained significant momentum in the 1970s, following the Iranian Revolution, when some Saudi Shia demanded greater political rights, asserting they were "oppressed."

In the 1980s and 1990s, Islamic-oriented opposition intensified, leading to several security and political tensions.

Similarly, the past decade has seen opposition from intellectuals, journalists, human rights activists, and even officials and military personnel.