A Saudi Arabian activist advocating for women’s rights has reportedly been sentenced to 11 years in prison by an anti-terrorism court.
Manahel al-Otaibi, a 29-year-old fitness instructor and advocate for women’s rights, received a verdict following a closed-door session at the Specialized Criminal Court in the kingdom on January 9, 2024, as reported by Amnesty International and the London-based Saudi rights group ALQST in a collaborative announcement made on Tuesday.
Nevertheless, the choice to detain al-Otaibi only came to light several weeks later, following the Saudi government’s response to a query from United Nations Special Rapporteurs regarding the matter.
Saudi Arabia’s mission to Geneva stated in January that Manahel al-Otaibi “stands accused of terrorist offences” and was arrested lawfully with a valid warrant. According to allegations by Amnesty and ALQST, her charges are primarily linked to her choice of clothing and expression of her views online, including advocating for the abolition of Saudi Arabia’s male guardianship system and posting videos of herself in attire considered “indecent.” Her sister, Fawzia al-Otaibi, faces similar charges but managed to leave Saudi Arabia after being summoned for questioning in 2022.
Amnesty and ALQST have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Manahel al-Otaibi, stating that her imprisonment contradicts Saudi Arabia’s narrative of reform and women’s empowerment. According to Bissan Fakih, Amnesty International’s Campaigner on Saudi Arabia, al-Otaibi’s conviction and 11-year sentence represent a grave injustice and reveal the insincerity of Saudi Arabia’s claimed women’s rights reforms, underscoring the authorities’ determination to suppress peaceful dissent.
Al-Otaibi faced physical and psychological abuse after her arrest and was held in solitary confinement in Malaz Prison in Riyadh. She informed her family of her conditions in April, including a broken leg due to physical abuse. However, Saudi Arabia’s mission to Geneva denied holding individuals for exercising their rights, asserting that all detainees are treated fairly regardless of their background.
The 2022 Personal Status Law, long-awaited and anticipated as a major reform, has instead been criticized for perpetuating many restrictive elements of the system, including marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance. Manahel al-Otaibi, ironically, believed in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s pledge for reforms but was arrested for exercising these freedoms on November 16, 2022.
Her sentence is occurring amid an intensified crackdown on free speech in Saudi Arabia, particularly online expression, with numerous individuals receiving lengthy prison terms, including many women, for their social media posts over the past two years.
