Saudi authorities have freed Sheikh Saleh Al-Talib, the former Imam and Khatib of Al-Masjid al-Haram, after more than seven years in detention.
The rights group Prisoners of Conscience confirmed his release on X, noting that he remains under house arrest with an electronic tracking device.
Sheikh Al-Talib was detained in August 2018 following a sermon urging Muslims to oppose wrongdoing. Despite the absence of formal charges, the Riyadh Specialized Criminal Appeals Court sentenced him to 10 years in 2022, overturning an earlier acquittal.
His release has gained significant attention online, where he is widely followed for his Quran recitations and sermons.
Before his arrest, Al-Talib served as a judge in Makkah, Riyadh, and other regions. Born on January 23, 1974, he belongs to the Huwtat Bani Taimi family of Hawtat Bani Tamim, known for producing Islamic scholars and judges.
Last week, King Salman Appoints New Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia
