34 years in prison for a Saudi activist

A number of Saudi opposition activists and the Freedom Initiative, a US-based human rights organization, said on Sunday that the mother of two young children and academic Salma Al-Shehab, was sentenced to 34 years in prison because of her Twitter posts. There she advocated basic human rights in Saudi Arabia.

It is the longest prison sentence issued against a Saudi women’s rights defender, according to the Freedom Initiative.

Al-Shehab is not a well-known activist – not even within the Saudi opposition.

In January 2021, she was arrested While she was on vacation in Saudi Arabia. She was a MD student in England.

Shortly before that – i.e. the end of 2020 – the Saudi authorities had called in several Twitter posts for the release of all political detainees. Her post was mainly about the famous Saudi activist Loujain Al-Hathloul – from issued Imprisonment a few weeks after Salma was deprived of her freedom.

Her position was cited in the ruling.

– It’s sarcasm. Bethany Al-Haidari, a Saudi case specialist at the Freedom Initiative, said that while Loujain’s release was celebrated, Salma only remained in prison because she specifically called for that release.

– Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman feels stronger than ever after the US president Travel to Jeddah In July this year. She gave him the green light to continue violating human rights.

https://twitter.com/I_Salma1988/status/1343718552759652352?s=20&t=VPlI27B6rzc6Q_BEH2d3Nw

Selma was sentenced first To six years in prison, but after the verdict was appealed, the sentence was raised to 34 years.

The ruling shocked Hausa Madi, 59, a Saudi opposition activist who lives in exile in Sweden.

– It’s unfair. She was brave enough to publicly demand the release of political prisoners. But there is nothing to judge harshly.

– They are trying to send a message to the Saudis: Even light criticism can lead to life behind bars.

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A Saudi activist was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his satirical Twitter account