“Tweet Torn Apart: Florida Man Loses U.S. Citizenship in Shocking Case of Saudi Backlash Against Free Speech”

**Saudi Arabia Jails US Citizen for Criticizing Crown Prince on Social Media**

WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Arabia has jailed a Florida retiree, Saad Almadi, and forced him to renounce his U.S. citizenship for social media posts critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This is not an isolated incident, as at least four people with dual Saudi-American citizenship have accused the Saudi government of forcing them to surrender their U.S. citizenship.

The alleged tactics by a key U.S. strategic partner are consistent with similar efforts to silence even moderate criticism, including threats of jail time and exit bans. Almadi, a 74-year-old retiree, was arrested in 2021 in Saudi Arabia while visiting his family. Saudi officials confronted him with tweets he had posted in the United States, including one about Khashoggi’s killing and another about the crown prince’s consolidation of power.

**The Plight of Saad Almadi**

Almadi was soon sentenced to more than 19 years in prison on terrorism-related charges stemming from those tweets. Saudi Arabia released him more than a year later but imposed an exit ban preventing him from returning to his home in Boca Raton, near Miami. Feeling helpless, Almadi signed a document and followed instructions to try to return his U.S. passport to the U.S. embassy, his son said.

The U.S. State Department said that Almadi’s case was not a voluntary renunciation of citizenship and that he remained a U.S. citizen, receiving consular support. The department will continue to promote Almadi to the Saudi Arabian government and hopes he will soon be reunited with his family in the United States.

**Forced Renunciations of U.S. Citizenship**

Abdullah Alaoud, senior director of the Center for Middle East Democracy, a Washington-based rights group, is aware of three other dual U.S.-Saudi citizens who were allegedly forced to renounce their U.S. citizenship. He said they were not activists or outspoken critics of the Saudi government. Aloud said Almadi’s case seemed the most shocking: “They kind of forced themselves on him.”

The group wrote to the Biden administration in December demanding the “immediate and unconditional release” of Americans imprisoned or banned from traveling in Saudi Arabia, U.S. residents, and their close relatives, in what activists said was an attempt to silence them.

**The Impact on U.S.-Saudi Relations**

The handling of cases like Almadi’s could complicate U.S. efforts to reverse tensions sparked by the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia are expected to further heat up under President-elect Donald Trump, whose real estate empire and his family have extensive business dealings with the world’s largest oil exporter.

**Conclusion**

The case of Saad Almadi is a shocking example of the pressure the Saudi government exerts on its dual citizens to silence their criticism. As the United States looks to strengthen its ties with Saudi Arabia, it must also be vigilant in protecting the rights of its citizens and ensuring that they are not subjected to forced renunciations of their U.S. citizenship.

**FAQ**

Q: What did Saad Almadi do to warrant his arrest in Saudi Arabia?
A: Almadi was arrested for social media posts critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Q: What were the charges against Almadi?
A: Almadi was charged with terrorism-related offenses stemming from his tweets.

Q: Did the U.S. State Department confirm Almadi’s renunciation of citizenship?
A: No, the State Department said that Almadi’s case was not a voluntary renunciation of citizenship and that he remained a U.S. citizen.

Q: Are there other cases of forced renunciations of U.S. citizenship by Saudi Arabia?
A: Yes, Abdullah Alaoud, senior director of the Center for Middle East Democracy, is aware of three other dual U.S.-Saudi citizens who were allegedly forced to renounce their U.S. citizenship.

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