Mikhlif Alshammari (Arabic: مخلف الشمري; born 21 February 1955) was a human rights defender. The Sunni writer was sanctioned on several occasions by the Saudi government for his pro-Shia sympathy. He was born in Baq'a, Ha'il.
Mikhlif Alshammari (Arabic: مخلف الشمري; born 21 February 1955) was a human rights defender. The Sunni writer was sanctioned on several occasions by the Saudi government for his pro-Shia sympathy. He was born in Baq'a, Ha'il.
He held a BBA in Business Administration from Armstrong University, Berkeley, California, United States 1987. SPM 2003.
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 a 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 in four years. The last arrest took place on 15 June 2010, accused of "annoying others."
In 2013, he was sentenced to five years in prison for exposing human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia.
In 2015, he was sentenced to two years in prison and 200 lashes for "associating with Shia Muslims".[1]