Saudi woman sentenced to 34 years in prison for following, retweeting dissidents on Twitter | World News,The Indian Express
The ruling is reportedly one of the longest prison sentences given to a Saudi woman's rights defender.
A 34-year-old Saudi woman, arrested last year, has been sentenced to 34 years in prison for reportedly following and retweeting dissidents and activists on Twitter, prompting human rights organisations to condemn the harsh ruling. The woman, who is a PhD student at UK’s Leeds University, had returned home for holidays when she was booked, reported The Guardian.
The ruling is reportedly one of the longest prison sentences given to a Saudi woman’s rights defender.
Salma al-Shehab was initially sentenced to three years in prison by a special terrorist court. The court said that Shehab used an internet website to “cause public unrest and destabilise civil and national security”. Later, on Monday, an appeals court revised it to 34 years of imprisonment and a 34-year travel ban.
Several human rights organisations, including the Human Rights Foundation, The Freedom Initiative, the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights and ALQST for Human Rights, have condemned the ruling and called for her release.
“We call on Saudi authorities to free Salma, allowing her to return to care for the children and to complete her studies safely in the United Kingdom,” said The Freedom Initiative in a statement. “Tweeting in solidarity with women’s rights activists is not a crime, ” it added.
Rating: 5