Saudi Activist Receives 11-Year Prison Sentence for ‘Choice of Attire’ – Sparking Outcry
“Saudi Women’s Rights Activist Sentenced to 11 Years for Dress Choice, Human Rights Groups Allege”
A prominent advocate for women’s rights and a notable fitness influencer from Saudi Arabia, Manahel al-Otaibi, has reportedly been handed an 11-year prison sentence due to her alleged choice of attire, according to claims by various human rights organizations.
Although the sentencing occurred in January, details of Al-Otaibi’s case only recently surfaced following Saudi Arabia’s formal response to a request from the United Nations concerning human rights.
In their reply, Saudi authorities outlined their rationale behind the arrest and prosecution of the 29-year-old activist.
While Saudi Arabia asserted that Al-Otaibi was detained over “terrorist offenses,” this narrative has been disputed by Amnesty International and Al Qst, a Saudi human rights group based in London.
These organizations contend that Al-Otaibi’s imprisonment was directly linked to her clothing choices and social media activity, particularly her advocacy against the male guardianship system, symbolized by her use of the hashtag “abolish male guardianship.”
According to reports from these human rights groups, Al-Otaibi was deemed to have worn “indecent clothes” in videos and ventured out without wearing an abaya, a traditional long robe.
Saudi Activist Receives 11-Year Prison Sentence for ‘Choice of Attire’ – Sparking Outcry
In contrast, Saudi Arabia maintains that Al-Otaibi was convicted under counter-terrorism laws, alleging that her actions had no bearing on her exercise of freedom of expression.
Criticism has been directed towards Saudi Arabia’s counter-terrorism legislation, which the United Nations has condemned as overly broad and prone to stifling dissent.
Amnesty International’s campaigner on Saudi Arabia, Bissan Fakih, condemned Al-Otaibi’s conviction as an “appalling and cruel injustice,” underscoring the contradiction between Saudi Arabia’s purported women’s rights reforms and its suppression of peaceful dissent.
Lina Alhathloul, head of monitoring and advocacy at Al Qst, lamented the missed opportunity for positive change that Al-Otaibi’s activism could have represented, criticizing Saudi authorities for their continued repression of women’s rights advocates.
In its response to the UN, Saudi Arabia refuted the allegations made by human rights groups, asserting that Al-Otaibi was found guilty of terrorist offenses and was sentenced on January 9, 2024.
However, charity groups contest this narrative, alleging that Al-Otaibi was subjected to enforced disappearance from November 2023 until April 2024, during which time she purportedly endured solitary confinement and physical abuse, resulting in a broken leg.
Al-Otaibi’s sister, Fawzia al Otaibi, also faced similar charges but fled Saudi Arabia in 2022 after being summoned for questioning, fearing arrest.
The case of Manahel al-Otaibi stands as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by activists advocating for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia amidst ongoing repression and legal persecution.
Saudi Activist Receives 11-Year Prison Sentence for ‘Choice of Attire’ – Sparking Outcry
