2024-05-04 02:20:53
Riyadh: After the arrest of a young female activist in Saudi Arabia, the court has sentenced her to 11 years in prison. Saudi authorities confirmed in a statement to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that Manahel al-Otaibi was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a special court on January 9. Otaibi was arrested about a year and a half ago for making videos wearing inappropriate clothes and making statements in favor of women’s rights. After this, Otaibi’s case was heard secretly in the anti-terrorism court. Otaibi was found guilty of charges related to Saudi anti-terrorism law.
According to the BBC report, Al-Otaibi is a fitness artist and artist. She has been vocal for women’s rights. On social media, she often advocated for giving more rights to women. Al-Otaibi’s main demand was relaxation of the dress code for women, who consistently opposed wearing the abaya. He was arrested in November 2022. The allegations against Otaibi also included that he launched a campaign on social media to end the special rights given to men. Her sister Fauj al-Otaibi was also accused of not dressing properly but managed to flee Saudi Arabia before being arrested. His other sister Maryam has also been an advocate of women’s rights and was also arrested in 2017.
Saudi’s decision is being criticized
Rights groups say al-Otaibi faced serious ill-treatment for being outspoken on women’s rights. Al-Otaibi, 29, was arrested in November 2022 for allegedly breaking Saudi Arabia’s anti-cyber-crime law. Authorities claimed she broke the law by wearing indecent clothing. Human rights activists say Otaibi was arrested for criticizing and calling for the abolition of a law in Saudi Arabia that gives men the same rights over women.
In the case of Otaibi, Saudi Arabia denied human rights groups’ allegations in a letter to the United Nations. The kingdom is trying to defend itself from allegations of human rights violations as the world’s first Dragon Ball theme park is soon going to open in Saudi Arabia. Saudi is intensifying its efforts to attract tourists. In such a situation, he wants to avoid such controversy.