Saudi Women's Rights Activist Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Challenging Male Guardianship Laws

Manahel al-Otaibi, a 29-year-old women's rights activist in Saudi Arabia, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison by the country's counterterrorism court for challenging the kingdom's male guardianship laws and abaya requirements. According to human rights groups Amnesty International and ALQST, al-Otaibi was convicted of "terrorist offenses" solely related to her choice of clothing and expression of her views online.

Al-Otaibi, a fitness instructor and blogger, was arrested in November 2022 after publishing videos of herself wearing "indecent clothes" and going to shops without wearing an abaya, the long black robe women are required to wear in public in Saudi Arabia. She also used a hashtag calling for an end to the country's male guardianship system, which requires women to obtain permission from a male relative for major life decisions.

The Saudi government claims al-Otaibi was convicted of legitimate terrorist offenses, but has not provided details of the charges against her. According to Amnesty International, she was "forcibly disappeared" between her arrest in November and mid-April 2023, when she was finally able to contact her family. The rights groups say she has been subjected to a "relentless catalogue of abuses" in detention, including physical abuse that left her with a broken leg.

Why this matters: Al-Otaibi's case is part of a broader crackdown on Saudi women who have been given draconian prison sentences for using social media to express themselves and advocate for greater rights. It exposes the hollowness of the Saudi government's much-touted women's rights reforms and raises serious concerns about the treatment of activists in the kingdom's prisons.

Al-Otaibi's older sister Foz al-Otaibi, who has a large social media following, faces similar charges but was able to flee Saudi Arabia before being arrested. Amnesty International and ALQST have called for Manahel al-Otaibi's immediate and unconditional release, stating that her imprisonment "directly contradicts authorities' narrative of reform and women's empowerment." They are urging the Saudi authorities to ensure her safety and access to adequate healthcare while detained.

Al-Otaibi's 11-year sentence, handed down in a secret hearing on January 9, 2023, has been condemned by the rights groups as an "appalling and cruel injustice." Her case follows the arrests of several other Saudi women activists in recent years, including Salma al-Shehab, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison, and Saad Ibrahim Almadi, a US citizen sentenced to 16 years over tweets posted while abroad. The Saudi authorities must amend discriminatory laws and abolish the male guardianship system, the groups said, rather than punishing those who call for reforms.

Key Takeaways

• Saudi activist Manahel al-Otaibi sentenced to 11 years for challenging male guardianship laws
• Convicted of "terrorist offenses" for wearing "indecent clothes" and expressing views online
• Subjected to abuse in detention, including a broken leg, before contacting family
• Part of broader crackdown on Saudi women activists, exposing hollow reform claims
• Rights groups call for her immediate release and condemn the "appalling injustice"