When agreements are signed with authoritarian governments, there is always someone who claims that they will be an important opportunity to encourage developments, reforms and changes in the field of human rights. Relentlessly, Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny this thesis. Thus, a few days after having concluded the negotiations for the sponsorship, by Aramco (the national hydrocarbons body), of the the men’s football world cup in 2026 and the women’s world cup in 2027terrible news has arrived from Riyadh.
Manahel al-Otaibi, a 29-year-old fitness instructor, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for posting content in support of women’s rights and publishing photos in which she was dressed “poorly”. The sentence was issued by the court that deals with terrorism cases on 9 January but was made public only a few days ago, in answer to one request for information by the United Nations.
The activist was accused that he published an appeal online for the reversal of the oppressive male guardian laws and a video in which she wore “indecent clothes” and “went around the shops without the abaya” (the traditional Saudi dress). Her sister Fawzia was also accused of similar crimes, but she fled Saudi Arabia for fear of arrest after she was summoned for questioning in 2022.
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The Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia in Geneva tried to tell another story: Manahel al-Otaibi would be judged guilty of “terrorist crimes” under articles 43 and 44 of the anti-terrorism lawwhich criminalizes “any person who creates, launches or uses a website or program on a computer or electronic device (…) or publishes information on the manufacture of incendiary devices, explosives or any other device used for terrorist crimes”, as well as “any person who, by any means, disseminates or publishes news, false statements, slander or similar to commit terrorist crimes”.
Ironically, Manahel al-Otaibi was an early believer in the reforms trumpeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In a 2019 TV interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle she described the “radical changes” underway in the Saudi kingdom, such as dress code reforms, adding that she felt free to express her opinions of herself and dress as she desired.
His arrest, November 16, 2022demonstrated how those reforms were mere propaganda.
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After the arrest, Manahel al-Otaibi suffered physical and psychological violence in Malaz prison, in the capital Riyadh, and was the victim of forced disappearance for five months, from November 5, 2023 until last month. On April 14, when she was finally able to contact her family again, she said she found herself isolated and having a broken leg due to the violence suffered. He also said he was not receiving medical treatment.
Al-Otaibi’s conviction marks the peak of a repressive campaign against freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia, both online and offline. Over the past two years, local courts have sentenced many people to long prison terms for expressing their opinions on social media, including several women, including Salma al-Shehab (27 years old), Fatima al-Shawarbi (30 years old), Sukaynah al-Aithan (40 years old) and Nourah al-Qahtani (45 years old).