Activists report that Salma al-Shehab, a Saudi PhD student, has been released from prison following a reduction of her sentence related to her online activism, highlighting the ongoing crackdown on free speech in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia Reduces Sentence of PhD Student Detained for Social Media Posts
Saudi Arabia Reduces Sentence of PhD Student Detained for Social Media Posts
Salma al-Shehab, a Saudi PhD student, is released after a lengthy imprisonment for advocating reforms via social media.
A Saudi doctoral student at the University of Leeds has reportedly been freed from prison in Saudi Arabia after a court reduced her initial sentence related to her social media activism, according to reports from human rights activists. Salma al-Shehab, aged 36 and a mother of two, was detained in 2021 while visiting Saudi Arabia and subsequently sentenced by a terrorism court to six years imprisonment for allegedly "disturbing public order" and "destabilizing the social fabric" through her online posts advocating for social reforms and calling for the release of fellow activists.
Her sentence saw a dramatic escalation to 34 years at one point but was significantly decreased on appeal first to 27 years and then to a final sentence of four years, with an additional four-year suspended term. Reports from ALQST, a UK-based organization focused on Saudi human rights, indicated she had been subjected to what the group deemed arbitrary imprisonment due to her peaceful activism. They emphasized that she should now be granted full freedom, including the ability to continue her studies at Leeds University.
The crackdown on dissent in Saudi Arabia has intensified under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, leading to heavy penalties for social media critics. Shehab, a dental hygienist and educator in her final year at Leeds, had previously shared messages in support of women's rights activists and other prominent figures detained by the government. Amnesty International’s Dana Ahmed remarked that Shehab’s imprisonment was an affront to free speech and highlighted the unjust treatment faced by others still incarcerated under similar charges. This includes other women like Manahel al-Otaibi and Nourah al-Qahtani, who are serving lengthy sentences for advocating women's rights.
As calls for reform continue, the case of al-Shehab brings renewed attention to the conditions of activists in Saudi Arabia, as numerous individuals remain imprisoned for their online engagement and expression.
