A Saudi woman has been sentenced to 34 years in prison for following and sharing the posts of “dissidents” and activists on Twitter. Guardian Reports on.
Among other things, she shared the posts of a prominent Saudi feminist activist who was formerly in prison, now lives under a travel ban, and was allegedly tortured for advocating for women’s driving rights. The woman also allegedly shared posts by other activists and “dissidents” living in exile who demanded the release of political prisoners.
The 34-year-old worked as a dental hygienist and medical educator and came to the UK in 2018 to study for a PhD at the University of Leeds. He also served as a lecturer at Princess Noora bint Abdulrahman University in Saudi Arabia.
In December 2020, he went on vacation to Saudi Arabia, where he was summoned for questioning by Saudi authorities over his tweets. The woman was arrested and eventually brought to court.
He was originally sentenced to three years in prison for “causing public disturbance and undermining civil and national security”. But a lawyer asked the court to consider the additional charge, and an appeals court on Monday handed down a new sentence: 34 years in prison and a 34-year travel ban.
In this case the woman can file a fresh appeal.
read more: Twitter employee spies for Saudi Arabia
read more: Filmmakers Arrested in Iran
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