Former Makkah Imam Sheikh Saleh Al-Talib Released From Prison

Sheikh Dr. Saleh Al-Talib, a former Imam of the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) in Mecca, has been released after spending years in a Saudi prison.

According to the advocacy group Prisoners of Conscience, Sheikh Al-Talib is not fully free and has been placed under house arrest with an electronic tag on his ankle to monitor his movements.

Sheikh Al-Talib was arrested in August 2018. His detention came after he delivered a sermon discussing the Islamic duty to speak out against evil in public. His comments were widely seen as a criticism of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, which hosts events and concerts that have drawn criticism from some religious figures in the kingdom.

Following his arrest, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. His recent release places him under strict supervision at his home.