Leeds University student's shocking sentencing in Saudi Arabia
A Leeds University student and mother of two has been jailed for 34 years in Saudi Arabia over her critical tweets of the Saudi Regime.
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| Credit: Leeds Live. |
Salma
al-Shehab was arrested last year whilst holidaying in Saudi Arabia. Before her
trip, she used social media to call for reforms in the country as well as
the release of numerous activists. Human rights groups have said this harsh
sentencing sheds light on Saudi Arabia’s claim that the country is improving
women’s rights; some claim this is proof that the country is contradicting its promises.
A
terrorism tribunal in the country convicted the PhD student of aiding
dissidents and seeking to ‘disrupt public order’ by publishing ‘false rumours.’
This is the longest prison sentence ever handed out in the country for a peaceful
activist.
In
January 2021, Shehab tweeted and retweeted numerous messages calling for
reforms in the Gulf state as well as the release of prominent activists and intellectuals
in the country. Her tweets focused predominantly on equality and even
praised a group of women’s rights activists as ‘prisoners of conscience.’ The
tweets included praise to Loujain al-Hathloul, an activist convicted of crimes
against the state just before the ban on women driving was lifted in 2018.
Interestingly, Hathloul was released on probation a month after Shehab’s
arrest. The release of some women’s rights activists after Shehab’s arrest only
came as a response to international pressure. With the spotlight on the country
switching quickly to the conflict in Ukraine, these crimes against women are
continuing.
Initially,
the 34-year-old was given a six-year prison sentence after being found guilty
of violating the country’s counter-terrorism laws. Shehab’s social media activity
also saw her found guilty of breaking anti-cybercrime laws. Around the same
time, hundreds of women were also detained in the country. Saudi Arabia is
well-known for its strict approach on women’s rights. On 9 August, Shehab was
sentenced to 34 years with an added 34-year travel ban on top following
her release. Throughout her time in custody, the jailed student has suffered
abuse and harassment behind bars. She’s been subjected to interrogations and
given medications that exhaust her.
Bethany
Al-Haidari of Freedom Initiative called the sentencing ‘abhorrent’ and saw it
as a reflection of the strict state’s stance on women’s rights: ‘Saudi Arabia
is boasting to the world that they are improving women’s rights and
implementing legal reforms. But there is no question with this sentence that
the situation is just getting worse.’
Foreign
Secretary Liz Truss is being urged to intervene in Shehab’s case with Labour MP
for Leeds, Hilary Benn, saying that the UK has a duty to press for her release.
Amnesty International have called for her ‘immediate and unconditional release.’
Ranking
145th out of 149 in the global index for women’s rights, Saudi
Arabia is lagging behind in freedom and equality. In 2018, only then were women
allowed to enter sports stadiums with merely five years earlier laws being
lifted to allow women to ride bicycles. These moves don’t show the reality of
the country, with attitudes towards women in the country proving shocking for
the Western world. Strict gender separation is upheld in public unless you are
married or with a relative, including in public transportation and restaurants.
In 2015, women were allowed to vote and run for elections for the first time.
However, only 20 out of 2,000 seats were given to women. Although women can seemingly
speak out, again and again they are arrested for demanding basic human rights.
With
many freedom groups working alongside Leeds University to reverse Shehab’s sentencing,
it is clear that the freedom of expression for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia
is still a criminal offence.