2026-02-12T05:51:27+00:00
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Shafaq News
More than 145 Iraqi nationals are believed to be
detained in Saudi Arabia, according to Iraqi lawmakers, in a case that has
resurfaced repeatedly over the past two years and prompted continued diplomatic
engagement between Baghdad and Riyadh. The issue blends legal, religious, and
political sensitivities and remains under discussion in Iraq’s parliament.
How Many Iraqis Are Detained?
Miqdad Al-Khafaji, a member of the Huqooq
parliamentary bloc, told Shafaq News that 147 Iraqis are currently held in
Saudi prisons and urged Iraq’s executive leadership to intensify efforts to
secure their release.
In August 2025, Raad Al-Maliki, a member of Iraq’s
parliamentary Legal Committee, revealed that nine Iraqis were detained during
the Umrah pilgrimage, describing the arrests as occurring “without charges.” He
warned that unresolved cases could provoke public frustration.
Iraqi officials have confirmed that some detainees
were released in stages following diplomatic contacts, though no consolidated
list of names has been made public. As a result, the exact number of Iraqis
still in custody remains unclear.
Why Are Iraqis Being Detained?
According to Al-Maliki and relatives, several cases
involved what were described as administrative or pilgrimage-related violations
rather than serious criminal offenses.
Some incidents were linked to social media posts
referencing Al-Baqi cemetery in Medina, a site revered by many Shiite Muslims
as the burial place of figures including Imam Hassan bin Ali and Fatimah,
daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. Saudi regulations during Hajj and Umrah
prohibit political slogans or expressions and require religious rituals to
remain free of political messaging.
In 2024, five Iraqis were also arrested while
performing Umrah. Iraqi media, citing family members, reported that the arrests
followed Instagram posts referencing Al-Baqi. The father of one detainee,
identified as Ali Ma’an Ali, said his son removed the post shortly after
publishing it and that it had limited engagement (four views) before deletion.
He added that the detainee’s mother remained in Saudi Arabia for weeks to
follow up on the case.
Separate media reports indicated that some detainees
were accused of chanting political slogans near the Kaaba, referencing figures
such as Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis. One of those mentioned,
Walid Al-Sharifi, was later released.
Where Are Detainees Being Held?
Iraqi media reported that the five Umrah detainees
were transferred to Dhahban Prison in Jeddah.
Human Rights Watch has previously cited allegations of
mistreatment in Dhahban Prison in unrelated cases, including claims of torture
and harassment. Those findings address broader detention conditions and do not
specifically refer to Iraqi nationals.
Al-Khafaji said many detainees were innocent and
alleged they faced mistreatment.
The Monitor of Hajj and Umrah Violations (MHUV), an
initiative linked to the UK-based SANAD human rights organization, said Saudi
authorities do not publicly disclose the names of some detainees during
pilgrimage seasons. It cited a March 2022 statement from Iraq’s Supreme
Authority for Hajj and Umrah confirming that Iraqi officials had formally
requested the release of detained pilgrims.
The precise number and legal status of Iraqi detainees
have not been publicly consolidated.
What Has Iraq Done Diplomatically?
The detainee file has prompted repeated diplomatic
interventions.
In August 2025, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein
met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Jeddah and delivered a
formal letter requesting the release of Iraqi detainees, saying progress on the
issue would support bilateral relations.
In September 2025, Hussein met with the families of
detainees in Baghdad, affirming that Saudi officials had shown readiness to
address the cases. He instructed Iraq’s embassy in Riyadh and consulate in
Jeddah to provide legal and humanitarian assistance.
Later that month, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia
Al-Sudani dispatched a delegation to Riyadh to receive a group of released
Iraqis. Authorities did not publish the names of those released.
Baghdad continues to pursue the matter diplomatically,
but no official breakdown has clarified how many Iraqis remain in custody or
the status of individual cases.
