Manahel al-Otaibi, a 29-year-old fitness instructor and outspoken advocate for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, has been handed a harsh 11-year prison sentence for her activism. According to Amnesty International and the Saudi rights organization ALQST, she was convicted during a secretive hearing before the kingdom’s Specialized Criminal Court earlier this year.
The charges against al-Otaibi are said to be linked to her choice of attire and expression of views online, which included calls to end the male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia. Despite fleeing the country in 2022, her sister, Fawzia al-Otaibi, faces similar accusations.
The Saudi government’s response to a United Nations inquiry revealed al-Otaibi’s imprisonment, with authorities justifying their actions by accusing her of terrorist offenses. This move has sparked outrage from human rights groups, who argue that her sentence contradicts Saudi Arabia’s purported reforms and commitment to women’s empowerment.
Amnesty International’s Campaigner on Saudi Arabia, Bissan Fakih, condemned the verdict as a “cruel injustice” and highlighted the alleged abuse al-Otaibi faced in prison, including solitary confinement and physical harm.
While Saudi Arabia has made some strides in loosening restrictions on women, the case of al-Otaibi underscores lingering discrimination and the stifling of dissent. Despite believing in promised reforms, she found herself imprisoned for exercising her freedoms.
Her sentencing adds to a concerning trend of crackdowns on free speech, particularly online expression, in Saudi Arabia. Numerous individuals, including many women, have faced lengthy prison terms for their social media posts in recent years.
