Mikhlif Alshammari


Mikhlif Alshammari was a human rights defender. The Sunni writer was sanctioned on several occasions by the Saudi government for his pro-Shia sympathy, and was sentenced to death in December 2016 for allegedly spying for Iran.

Education

He held a BBA in Business Administration from Armstrong University, Berkeley, California, United States 1987
He was planning to earn a master's degree in Law before his arrest and death.
SPM 2003

Work Experience

Mikhlif Alshammari was one of the leaders of the Shammar tribe.
He was a writer and critic for several Saudi newspapers. After being banned from writing, he continued to publish his articles on the internet.
He was well known as human rights defender and advocate of reforming democracy. Also, he was one of the promoters to unite the Sunni with the Shiites under one umbrella. He was trusted by international organizations like by Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Council, Front Line Defenders, Amnesty International and ALKarama HR Org. He was self-employed as a director of his own contracting company “DAHAMCO”.
In 2007, Mr. Alshammari’s company went bankrupt as a result of his arrest without charge by the General Investigation in Dammam.
After he was released from that arbitrary detention and tasted the injustice, he changed his career totally. He became a human rights defender and worked a full-time human right defender to help oppressed people, men and women, Saudis and non-Saudis at all levels.
Due to his activities and his writings, Alshammari was detained three times over the last four years. The last arrest took place on 15 June 2010, accused of "annoying others." After remaining in Dammam Jail pending a trial, he was finally sentenced to death without fair trial in December 2016 for allegations of conducting espionage for Iran.

Activities