Essam Al-Zamel is a Saudi economist, businessman and prominent writer who has been a vocal critic of the government’s economic policies, particularly Vision 2030 and the proposed partial IPO of Saudi Aramco. He was arrested on 12 September 2017, upon his return from an international economic conference, as part of a broader crackdown targeting intellectuals and reform advocates. On 01 October 2018, during a secret session of the Specialised Criminal Court, the Public Prosecution charged him under the Anti-Terror Law and the Anti-Cyber Crime Law, accusing him of “mobilising his followers on social media”, membership in a terrorist organisation, inciting public unrest and communicating with Qatar, all tied to his peaceful criticism. He was later sentenced on 06 October 2020 to 15 years in prison following a closed and unfair trial, with reports indicating he is held in prolonged solitary confinement and denied access to adequate legal or medical care.