'Women like Salma must be recognized and protected, not targeted for expressing their opinions,' one advocate said.
The extraordinarily lengthy sentence adds to the chilling effect among government critics and civil society at large and is yet another example of Saudi authorities weaponizing the country’s counterterrorism and anti-cybercrime laws to target, intimidate, and retaliate against human rights defenders and those who voice dissent.
Saudi Arabia must not only release al-Shehab so that she can re-join her family, but also review all convictions stemming from free expression against human rights defenders, including women who were jailed after they legitimately demanded reforms of discriminatory policies, as well as religious leaders and journalists.
Diana Semaan, Amnesty International’s acting deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, similarlythe kingdom’s authorities Thursday, declaring that “it is outrageous that Salma al-Shehab, a Ph.D. student and mother of two from Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority, has been handed down such a cruel and unlawful punishment simply for using Twitter and retweeting activists who support women’s rights.
Al-Shehab was arrested in January 2021 while on holiday in Saudi Arabia and initially sentenced to six years behind bars, but the country’s Specialized Criminal Court of Appeal increased her sentence last week. According to Semaan, “Al-Shehab should never have been convicted in the first place, but to have her sentence increased from six to 34 years following an unfair trial shows that the authorities intend to use her to set an example amid their unrelenting crackdown on free speech.”
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Savage Love: My Husband Won't Have Sex With Me But Sexts Random WomenI am a 37-year-old heterosexual woman in a monogamous relationship with a het cis male. Let’s call him “Rick.” We’ve been together for five years...
Lire la suite »
‘My Hope Died Forever’: Taliban Restrictions Are Forcing Afghan Women Out Of The WorkforceAfghan women continue to face severe human rights abuses, and some of them are particularly hard-hit by unemployment and workplace restrictions.
Lire la suite »
Women were already tired. Then 2022 happenedCNN asked women how they are handling the curveballs of 2022. School shootings, inflation, work-life imbalance and the ongoing baby formula shortage are just a few of the themes they focused on.
Lire la suite »
Two Chicago-area women plead guilty to breaching U.S. Capitol during Jan. 6 insurrectionTrudy Castle and Kimberly DiFrancesco admitted to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, a plea agreement says.
Lire la suite »
Philadelphia sets date for key hearing on controversial ‘comfort women’ statueCritics say the monument would bring important attention to a war crime. Opponents say it would be divisive
Lire la suite »