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Saudi Arabia confirmed successful a missive to nan United Nations that a female fittingness coach who was celebrated online received an 11-year situation condemnation but did not specify immoderate of her alleged "terrorism offenses."
Though nan kingdom insisted nan lawsuit had thing to do pinch nan instructor's online presence, quality authorities activists opportunity nan condemnation levied against Manahel al-Otaibi shows nan limits of look in Saudi Arabia.
It besides highlights different broadside of nan kingdom, now tally day-to-day by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who nether his 88-year-old begetter King Salman has dramatically liberalized immoderate aspects of women's lives successful nan country.
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"Her charges related solely to her prime of clothing and look of her views online, including calling connected societal media for an extremity to Saudi Arabia’s antheral guardianship system, publishing videos of herself wearing ‘indecent clothes’ and ‘going to nan shops without wearing an abaya,’" said Amnesty International and ALQST, a London-based group advocating for quality authorities successful Saudi Arabia that’s followed al-Otaibi’s case.
The quality authorities statement issued associated statements connected Tuesday astir al-Otaibi's situation sentence, first revealed successful a Saudi missive dated Jan. 25 and sent to nan U.N.'s Office of nan High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In its letter, Saudi Arabia’s imperishable ngo to nan U.N. successful Geneva did not outline immoderate of nan grounds that convicted al-Otaibi while saying location had been "unfounded and uncorroborated allegations and claims" made astir her case.
Manahel al-Otaibi, a fittingness influencer, is nan latest of activistic to beryllium arrested for denouncing Saudi rules connected societal media. (AP Photo)
Al-Otaibi, who posted fittingness videos connected Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, faced charges of "defaming nan kingdom astatine location and abroad, calling for rebellion against nationalist bid and society’s traditions and customs, and challenging nan judiciary and its justice," according to tribunal documents earlier seen by The Associated Press.
Her posts included defense for wide dress codes for women, LGBTQ+ rights and nan abolition of Saudi Arabia antheral guardianship laws. She was besides accused of appearing successful indecent clothing and posting Arabic hashtags that see nan building "overthrow nan government."
Al-Otaibi has been detained since November 2022. Her sister Fouz faced akin charges but fled Saudi Arabia, according to ALQST.
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The kingdom's missive said nan Saudi authorities "wishes to underscore nan truth that nan workout and defense of authorities is not a crime nether Saudi law; however, justifying nan actions of terrorists by describing them arsenic exercising aliases defending authorities is unacceptable and constitutes an effort to legitimize violent crimes."
Since 2018, women person been allowed to thrust and different restrictions person been lifted successful nan once-ultraconservative kingdom arsenic it tries to quickly diversify its oil-based economy. That came arsenic Prince Mohammed solidified his power, partially by imprisoning members of nan Saudi elite arsenic his begetter retains general power successful nan kingdom.
Several activists person been arrested for denouncing Saudi rules, aliases pursuing dissidents who do so, connected societal media. This includes Salma al-Shehab, a erstwhile doctoral student astatine Leeds University who is presently serving a 27-year situation sentence.
