# Saudi Arabia Imprisons Wikipedia Contributor for Sharing Information Online **Osama Khalid** began contributing to Wikipedia Arabic at the age of twelve. He became a prolific blogger, writing about Saudi Arabia, attending meetups, and sharing his opinions on open-source technology and freedom of expression. He advocated for internet freedom, contributed to projects like **EFF’s** **HTTPS Everywhere**, and was a thoughtful presence at conferences. In July 2020, he was detained during a wave of arbitrary arrests by Saudi authorities during the Covid-19 lockdown. Initially sentenced to five years, his sentence was increased to 32 years, then reduced to 25 years in 2023, and again to 14 years this past September. **ALQST**, a Saudi human rights organization, highlighted the arbitrary nature of sentencing in the Saudi judicial system in a joint letter. ## The "Crime": Sharing Information Online Osama’s Wikipedia contributions included pages on critical human rights issues in Saudi Arabia, such as the treatment of women’s rights activist **Loujain al-Hathloul** and Saudi Arabia’s infamous **al-Ha’ir prison**. His blog, now offline, criticized government plans for surveilling encrypted platforms. Over the years, the **EFF** has campaigned for the release of individuals imprisoned for their speech, including **Ola Bini** and **Alaa Abd El Fattah**. These cases highlight that attacks on free expression are rarely confined to borders. Governments worldwide use vague cybercrime laws and politically motivated prosecutions to silence critics, technologists, journalists, and activists. Supporting these individuals defends the principle that writing code, sharing ideas, criticizing governments, and organizing online should not be treated as crimes. Public pressure, international solidarity, legal advocacy, and sustained campaigning can shift the political cost of repression. The **EFF** is highlighting Osama’s case and will continue to work with partners like **ALQST** to advocate for his release. Osama Khalid, like many human rights defenders, journalists, and internet users detained by the Saudi government, deserves to be free.