Saudi Arabia activist sentenced to 11 years in prison for ‘support’ of women’s rights

Women's rights activist imprisoned for 11 years in Saudi Arabia

Manahel al-Otaibi was sentenced in a counter-terrorism court after allegedly speaking out against male guardianship laws and "her choice of clothing."

Fitness Instructor Sentenced To 11 Years In Prison For Demanding An End To Saudi Arabia's Guardian Laws

Manahel al-Otaibi is a feminist and certified fitness instructor who has been advocating for women's rights for over a decade. She is well-known to the Saudi Arabian authorities for regularly sharing empowering posts on social media. However, she was arrested in November 2022 for "her choice of clothing and support for women's rights." Recently, she was sentenced to 11 years in prison for charges related to what the government called "terrorist …

Saudi court ‘secretly’ hands 11-year sentence to women's rights activist

A Saudi court has recently sentenced women's rights activist Manahel al-Otaibi to 11 years in prison in a "secret hearing", according to two human rights groups who denounced the ruling as contradictory to the kingdom’s “narrative of reform and women’s empowerment”.

Saudi women's rights activist sentenced to 11 years in prison

The sentence, handed down in a "secret hearing" by Saudi Arabia's Specialized Criminal Court on January 9, 2024, was only revealed weeks later, following a United Nations inquiry, according to Amnesty International and the London-based Saudi rights group ALQST.

Saudi women’s rights activist sentenced to 11 years in jail, rights groups say

Human rights groups are calling for the release of a Saudi woman, who they say has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for supporting women’s rights and for the way she dressed.