Ahmad al-Sawian

He has a Bs Degree in Chemistry and works as chief editor in Albayan magazine and the president of Islamic Press Association. He wrote more than 10 books on Religion and philosophy. Ahmed al-Suwian, chairman of the board of Al-Bayan magazine and of the Islamic Press Association, was arrested in 2017, one of several religious figures swept up in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s crackdown on the press. Al-Suwian was arrested on September 20, 2017, amid a wide crackdown on perceived dissidents, according to news reports. Al-Suwian is chairman of the board of Al-Bayan magazine and of the Islamic Press Association, according to Qatari-based Al-Jazeera. Al-Bayan magazine covered domestic, regional, and international politics largely in line with the views of the Saudi establishment. However, the magazine also published pieces critical of Israel and its policies toward the Palestinians and in the region. Under Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense, the kingdom has become increasingly close strategically to Israel, according to news reports. A tweet from the Twitter account “prisoners of conscience” on July 26, 2019, said that al-Suwian was still detained without charge. CPJ could not determine the identity of the person or organization behind the Twitter account or confirm the information. CPJ could not determine the state of al-Suwain’s health.