A Ph.D. student in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to 34 years in prison for her tweet advocating for reform and demanding the release of activists.
34-year-old Salma Al-Shahab is the mother of two children and she is a citizen of Saudi Arabia. He was arrested in this case last year.
Human rights organizations say this arrest exposes the Saudi government’s lie that women are being given more rights in the country than before. These organizations allege that the condition of women in the country is getting worse than before.
The tribunal that hears extremism cases has found Salma al-Shahab guilty of supporting “those who disturb the country’s system” and “spreading rumors”.
Human rights organizations have warned of the longest sentence ever given to an activist who raised a peaceful voice in Saudi Arabia.
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The oppression of the activists and those who raise their voices for reforms and been increased during the last five years under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In this Sunni Muslim-majority country, the activists and students who are punished are from the minority Shia section. In her Instagram profile, she describes herself as a dentist and medical educator. She says that she is doing her Ph.D. at the University of Leeds in the UK and is currently a lecturer at the Princes Noura University in Riyadh.
He has 2,700 followers on Twitter and his account has not been updated since January 12, 2021.
He had tweeted or retweeted several messages demanding reforms in the country and the release of prominent activists, clerics and other intellectuals.
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In late 2021, Shahab was first sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of violating anti-extremism and cybercrime laws, according to US human rights body The Freedom House and Britain’s ALQST.
But after reading the court documents, these institutions have told that on the 9th of this month, the appellate court increased their sentence to 34 years. Along with this, a travel ban has also been imposed on her for 34 years. It is believed that the restrictions imposed on traveling will come into force after her release.
Criticism of this decision is being made all over the world
Freedom Initiative’s Saudi case manager Bethany al-Haidari called the punishment “abominable”.
“Saudi Arabia tells the world that it is working to improve women’s rights and bring about legal reforms,” she told the BBC on Saturday. But after this decision, there is no doubt that the situation is getting worse on this front in the country.
Lina Al-Hathloul, ALQST’s head of communications and sister of Louzain Al-Hathloul, said on Monday, “This decision has made it clear that Saudi Arabian authorities are implementing harsh punishments for those who openly express their views.”
On Wednesday, a Leeds University spokesperson told the BBC: “We are deeply concerned by the recent developments in the Salma case. We are taking advice from experts about whether any help can be given to them in some way.
At the same time, a spokesman for the US State Department has said that they are studying Shahab’s case. He has also said that the use of freedom of expression to advocate the rights of women should not be made a crime.
However, there has been no response from the Saudi government on this matter so far.
