A doctoral student in dentistry at the University of Leeds in England, Salma al-Chehab regularly published messages in favor of women’s rights in this ultra-conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A court sentenced a national to 34 years in prison for having “provided assistance”, via her tweets, to political opponents who seek to “disturb public order”, according to a court document seen by AFP on Wednesday . Feminist activists are particularly repressed by Riyadh.
The London-based human rights organization ALQST denounced in a statement “the longest prison sentence ever imposed by the Saudi authorities on a peaceful activist” in a context of “already excessively harsh repression”. An appeals court sentenced Salma al-Chehab to 34 years in prison, along with a ban on leaving her country for a similar period after her release from detention, according to a judgment handed down on August 9.
This mother-of-two was found guilty of “providing assistance to those who seek to disturb public order and spread false and malicious information”, by “writing and posting tweets” on her account personal.
Stopped while on vacation
The doctoral student was arrested in January 2021 while on vacation in Saudi Arabia. In June 2022, a court had sentenced her at first instance to six years in prison, three of which were suspended, a sentence considerably increased a few days ago. The judgment on appeal can be challenged within 30 days before the Supreme Court.
With around 2,600 Twitter followers, 34-year-old Salma Al-Chehab tweeted for women’s rights. She “did not think that her activity on Twitter could cause her problems, told AFP a friend of the young woman, who requested anonymity. We were surprised by his arrest. »
Under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed ben Salman received at the Elysee Palace at the end of July, Saudi Arabia has given new rights to women, such as the right to drive or travel alone. However, the kingdom is regularly singled out by NGOs for serious human rights abuses, including its crackdown on feminists and political dissidents.