Saudi Arabia has permitted US citizen Saad Almadi to return home to Florida, well before of the planned removal of travel restrictions and a day after the kingdom's leader and prime minister met the former US president at the White House.
Judicial Proceedings Overview
Almadi, seventy-five, was given 19 years of incarceration in the kingdom in 2021 after he wrote 14 tweets opposing the Riyadh government. Two years later, the allegations were modified to so-called "cyber crimes" and he was sentenced to a 30-year ban on leaving Saudi Arabia.
"Our family rejoices that, after four long years, our father, Saad Almadi, is finally on his way home to the United States!"
The declaration that Almadi, a dual citizen and former engineering professional who had resided in the US since the 1970s, would be free to leave the country came after the US president gave an address touting US-Saudi ties, including arms sales and financial agreements.
Diplomatic Recognition
"This day would not have been possible without President Donald Trump and the persistent work of his administration. We are deeply grateful to Dr Sebastian Gorka and the team at the security advisory board, as well as everyone at the state department," it added.
The declaration by Almadi's son, Ibrahim Almadi, also expressed gratitude to various non-profit organizations, including the James Foley Fund and Hostages America, and House speaker Mike Johnson for supporting the older Almadi's cause. He later posted on social media that his father was traveling to the US.
Wider Implications
Almadi is one of a small number of American dual citizens facing exit bans from Saudi Arabia following a clampdown on online dissent. His son has earlier stated that Almadi was pressured to sign papers giving up his US citizenship.
The legal proceedings involving Almadi focused on social media posts in which he was accused of urged Saudi citizens to seek Lebanese citizenship and faulted the kingdom's defenses against Houthi rocket strikes.
Additionally, he expressed approval for the rededication of a street in the US capital after Jamal Khashoggi, the journalist and Washington Post columnist murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
Khashoggi Case
US intelligence reports published by the Biden administration later assessed that the crown prince had approved of a plan to "detain or eliminate" Khashoggi.
Questioned regarding the killing, Trump said the crown prince "was unaware" of Khashoggi's killing. The Saudi crown prince has denied any wrongdoing. He said at the White House that Saudi Arabia "took appropriate measures" to examine Khashoggi's death, which he called "painful" and a "huge mistake".
Diplomatic Pressure
US diplomatic efforts to free Almadi and allow him to come back to the US has been increasing since Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia in May. Many appealed to Trump's assertion that he is uniquely successful in bringing back US citizens detained overseas.
When questioned by journalists in May about the case, Trump said he wasn't aware about it but promised to take a look. A few weeks later, one of his national security aides, Gorka, met the son at the White House.
"President Trump is the master negotiator and he enjoys working with the Saudis and we will secure your father's release," Johnson said.
