:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/PXDG4NSYRRASVF2E6D4KHBHGEI.png "Saudi Arabia sentenced a woman to 11 years in prison for “terrorist crimes”: she was a popular online fitness influencer")
Saudi Manahel al-Otaibi, a 25-year-old activist, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for undisclosed “terrorism crimes” in Saudi Arabia. The fitness instructor, known for her popular online presence, was convicted for her choice of clothing and expression of her views online, including advocating for the end of the male guardianship system and posting videos of herself wearing “indecent clothing.”
Human rights activists have criticized the sentence, saying it highlights the limits of expression in Saudi Arabia, despite the recent liberalization of some aspects of women’s lives under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi government, in a letter to the United Nations, did not provide any evidence for al-Otaibi’s conviction and dismissed the allegations as “baseless and uncorroborated.”
Al-Otaibi has been in detention since November 2022, while her sister faced similar charges and fled the country. The Saudi government argued that the exercise and defense of rights is not a crime under Saudi law, but justifying terrorist actions as rights defense is unacceptable. The case is a stark reminder of the ongoing repression of dissent in the kingdom, with several activists being arrested for criticizing Saudi rules or supporting dissidents on social media.
Despite some recent reforms, including allowing women to drive and lifting other restrictions, Saudi Arabia continues to face criticism for its human rights record. This case adds to the growing concerns about freedom of expression in the country.