Lebanon: Composer Samir Sfeir released from Saudi detention after 50 days solitary confinement

The Lebanese composer Samir Sfeir was released on Thursday from detention in Saudi Arabia and arrived in Lebanon's capital, Beirut.

Sfeir, a celebrated musician and composer, had spent a month and a half in a Saudi prison after he was arrested over his political opinions and tweets regarding Saudi Arabia.

His whereabouts remained unclear until 28 April, when Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants tried to ask Saudi authorities about him and the reasons for his detention.

Sfeir said on Thursday that he was for detained in solitary confinement for his “political opinions” for 50 days, and only saw his three interrogators. 

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Speaking at Beirut airport on Thursday, he said that he made “a mistake” in the way he criticised Saudi Arabia and expressed his support for Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah movement.

“I thank God, maybe he wanted this to happen to me, to bring me back to my consciousness,” Sfeir said in an interview with Al-Jadeed TV. “I don't say that my opinions are wrong, but I say that the way I defended and interpreted my opinions is wrong."

He vowed to focus on music and leave politics to politicians, apologising to Lebanese pop stars for his past criticisms. He also thanked Saudi Arabia "for bringing me back to consciousness".

Lebanese media reported that Sfeir was questioned about his political tweets criticising Saudi Arabia and mocking its war against Yemen, which has so far resulted in 233,000 deaths, according to a United Nations report.

Sfeir is well-known for his ties to Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement party. He has been living in Saudi Arabia permanently for the past nine months and has visited Riyadh frequently in the past five years.

Al-Akhbar newspaper said that Sfeir was detained after tweets were dug up when he thanked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on social media for being able to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

Saudi social media users had called for the removal of Sfeir from the Kingdom following his post in January. Some accused the Lebanese composer of benefiting from the kingdom's services despite past comments alluding to Saudi Arabia exporting terrorism, an allegation the kingdom denies.