4:52A current photograph of Saad Almadi.Courtesy Ibrahim Almadi
The offspring of Saad Almadi, who remains in Saudi Arabia under a travel restriction related to allegations of "online offenses" by the kingdom, asserted that President Donald Trump has not prioritized his father's freedom, even as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman journeys to Washington for an official state visit this Tuesday.
Ibrahim Almadi, whose 75-year-old father was arrested in Saudi Arabia during a family trip in 2021, claims his father has been "subjected to harassment" by Saudi officials and wishes to return to the United States, his place of residence for several decades. Almadi is a dual citizen of both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, having moved to the U.S. in 1976.
Upon his apprehension in 2021, Saudi authorities accused Saad Almadi of engaging in terrorism due to 14 tweets he posted that voiced disapproval of the royal family. Subsequently, the charges were lessened to so-called "cyber crimes," and he received a sentence involving a travel ban, preventing him from departing the kingdom until 2054.
One particular tweet, disseminated while Saad Almadi was present in the U.S., championed the idea of renaming a street in Washington, D.C., in honor of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist who met his demise at a Saudi consulate located in Istanbul.
A current photograph of Saad Almadi.Courtesy Ibrahim Almadi
When questioned about the Almadi situation, Trump informed reporters in May that he would "investigate" the matter.
In an interview conducted with ABC News, Ibrahim Almadi expressed that U.S. diplomacy facilitated his father's liberation from custody and even "preserved his existence" in 2023. Nevertheless, he contended that bin Salman, the effective leader of Saudi Arabia who will be welcomed by Trump at the White House prior to a state dinner, is still "evading consequences for imprisoning Americans" by imposing a travel prohibition on his father.
Ibrahim Almadi communicated to ABC that the fact that Saudi Arabia, an ally of the United States, has not freed the older Almadi is "offensive." He asserted that Trump, who has fostered amicable ties with Saudi Arabia, could simply make "a phone call" to secure Almadi’s release.
Trump has prioritized the liberation of Americans held in foreign countries, frequently engaging with adversaries to facilitate the return of U.S. citizens — as exemplified by the case involving Venezuela, with which Washington lacks formal diplomatic relations.
When prompted for feedback regarding Saad Almadi, an official representing the National Security Council chose not to elaborate. The official underscored that "the repatriation of our citizens holds the utmost importance for President Trump," while highlighting the fact that "he has successfully freed over 75 Americans within the past 10 months."
Saad and Ibrahim Almadi embarking on a hike together in October 2021, preceding Saad’s journey to Saudi Arabia, where he was subsequently detained.Courtesy Ibrahim Almadi
ABC News has made contact with the Saudi embassy situated in Washington to solicit their perspective on the Almadi situation.
Ibrahim Almadi disclosed that U.S. officials have consistently informed him over the past four years, since the arrest, that they were engaged in "final negotiations" and "extensive communication" aimed at securing his father’s release from the country.
"My current sentiment — and my father['s] sentiment — revolves around the belief that the case is being disregarded," he articulated. "They are essentially setting aside the case."
This perspective leaves the Almadi son with a sense of pessimism in anticipation of the state visit, as he remains convinced that the crown prince "is leveraging him as a bargaining chip," he stated.
According to the Foley Foundation, which champions the cause of American hostages and individuals wrongfully detained abroad, there are three American citizens who are unjustly subjected to travel bans in Saudi Arabia.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
