Cartoonist jailed 23 years for 'insulting drawings' in Saudi Arabia

A cartoonist in Saudi Arabia was sentenced to 23 years in prison over a 'political carton' that allegedly insulted the Gulf kingdom's leadership, his sister and a rights group said this week.

The case against Mohammed al-Hazza, 48, adds to concerns about freedom of expression under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as Saudi Arabia -- the world's largest crude oil exporter -- seeks to open up to tourists and investors after years of isolation.

The father of five was arrested in February 2018 in Saudi Arabia during "a violent raid" in which security forces entered his home and ransacked his studio, the London-based Sanad Human Rights Organisation said in a statement.

A court document says the charges against him concern "offensive cartoons" he produced for the Qatari newspaper Lusail as well as social media posts that were allegedly "hostile" to Saudi Arabia and supportive of Qatar.

Hazza's arrest came less than a year after Saudi Arabia and several allies cut ties with Qatar, claiming it supported extremists and was too close to Iran -- allegations that Doha denied.

The countries mended ties in January 2021.