Saudi Women’s Rights Activist ‘Manahel al-Otaibi’ Jailed for 11 Years

According to the report of Amnesty International and ALQST women’s rights activist Manahel al-Otaibi was jailed for 11 years because she expressed her views and her clothing choices online. Manahel al-Otaibi is based in Saudi Arabia and is 29 years old.

The report highlighted the reasons behind this case is the abolition of the guardianship system. Manahel al-Otaibi was doing shopping without an abaya.

It is a “terrorism offense”, according to Saudi Arabia’s Diplomatic. They said in United Nations.

There are no more details about the case of Manhail al-Otaibi. Her case was ended in January 2024 this was confirmed by the Sunni Muslim-ruled Gulf kingdom’s mission in Geneva in a letter.

However, this is not a piece of new news or the first case in Saudi Arabia. Saudi People especially women face similar rules when using social media to express opinions or promote equality.

The rate has increased significantly in the last two years.

Manhail al-Otaibi- the female fitness trainer was an early supporter of the social and economic reforms in Saudi Arabia. She showed her support for the laws implemented by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2017.

In a statement, she told once “based on what the crown prince has said… that I have the right to choose what I want to wear, as long as it is respectable”.

But in November 2022, she was arrested on terrorism charges for promoting some dissenting content online.

She was initially jailed for violating the anti-cybercrime law and other crimes such as opposing the women’s law, abolishing the guardianship system, and discriminating against the hijab law, ALQST reported. Many of her pictures of obscene clothes while shopping on the internet had gone viral.

But just after 3 months of the case it was transferred to the Specialised Criminal Court.

A terrorism tribunal has been used to prosecute her. This is well known for its harsh sentences.

On January 9, She was convicted on 9th January and sentenced to 11 years in prison. This decision of the court was made public by the Saudi Mission to the United Nations Human Rights Office on January 25 with a letter.

In that letter, it was written that the court found Manhail al-Otaibi guilty of a “terrorism offense” under articles 43 & 44. This decision was taken against him after the court examined all the evidence.

Now public reactions and world media are questioning and condemning Saudi’s actions. Human rights groups also condemned this act on the Saudi female activist.