As the holy month of Ramadan approaches—a time of mercy, justice, and reconciliation—Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) urges Arab governments to immediately and unconditionally release all political and opinion-related detainees.

Authorities must put an end to arbitrary detention and repression targeting activists, journalists, and human rights defenders for exercising their fundamental right to free expression.

Across the Arab world, particularly in Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, prisons are filled with intellectuals, journalists, and reform advocates who have been unjustly detained. Many face harsh conditions, denied fair trials, legal representation, and due process. Their suffering is further exacerbated by torture, ill-treatment, and the deprivation of medical care and family visits, all of which violate international human rights laws and the values of justice and dignity.

The impact of these violations extends beyond the detainees themselves. Thousands of families—children, spouses, and parents—are left in distress, struggling with the absence of their loved ones and often their primary providers. The continued use of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance not only deepens social injustice but also contradicts the principles of tolerance and unity that Ramadan represents.

WJWC calls on Arab governments to uphold the true spirit of Ramadan by taking meaningful steps toward justice. This includes ensuring fair and transparent legal proceedings, dropping politically motivated charges, and providing detainees with necessary medical and psychological support upon release. Additionally, authorities must abolish repressive laws and policies that silence dissent and create a political climate that respects freedom of expression and human rights.

This Ramadan should be a time for reflection, compassion, and reconciliation. WJWC urges governments to seize this opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to justice, human dignity, and social solidarity by ending these oppressive practices and restoring the rights of those unjustly detained.