Saudi fitness instructor Manahel al-Otaibi is the latest target of a crackdown on dissent in the kingdom
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A 29-year-old fitness instructor popular on social media in Saudi Arabia faces charges that could see her jailed for her Saudi fitness instructor Manahel al-Otaibi, 29-year-old fitness instructor popular on social media in the country, is the latest person targeted in a crackdown on dissent in the kingdom. She faces charges of “defaming the kingdom at home and abroad, calling for rebellion against public order and traditions and customs of society, and of challenging the judiciary and its justice. Her sister, Loujain, remains in the Kingdom due to a travel ban following a prison sentence for her own activism. Several activists have been arrested for speaking out against Saudi rules, or following dissidents who do so, on social Media. It is not immediately clear how many years in prison she could face, although activists fear it could be a long time.
gepubliceerd : 2 jaar geleden door Editor in Lifestyle
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A 29-year-old fitness instructor popular on social media in Saudi Arabia faces charges that could see her jailed for her posts, becoming the latest person targeted in a crackdown in the kingdom.
The case against Manahel al-Otaibi shows the limits of expression in Saudi Arabia, even for those who, like al-Otaibi, support Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s moves to liberalize aspects of life in the ultra-conservative kingdom . Meanwhile, Prince Mohammed has cemented his power in part by jailing the country’s elite and others who speak out while his 87-year-old father King Salman retains official control.
“They say they welcome women and women can wear anything – but in the end what happens is that it’s only for Westerners,” said Lina Alhathloul, manager monitoring and advocacy at ALQST, a London-based human rights group. in Saudi Arabia, this followed the case of al-Otaibi. Alhathloul’s sister, Loujain, remains in the kingdom due to a travel ban following a prison sentence for her own activism.
“Saudi women are still oppressed, they are still subject to the male guardianship system and if they speak out they are imprisoned and no one talks about them. It’s sad, everyone is really scared, everyone gets arrested for nothing.
Saudi government officials did not respond to a request for comment on al-Otaibi’s arrest.
Al-Otaibi, who posted fitness videos on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, faces charges of “defaming the kingdom at home and abroad, calling for rebellion against public order and traditions and customs of society, and of challenging the judiciary and its justice,” according to court documents seen by The Associated Press. Her messages included advocating for liberal dress codes for women, LGBTQ+ rights, and abolishing Saudi male guardianship laws.
The documents also accuse him of appearing in indecent clothing and posting Arabic hashtags that include the phrase “overthrow the government”.
It is not immediately clear how many years in prison she could face, although activists fear it could be a long time.
Al-Otaibi has been detained since November 2022. Her case has become high profile in recent days as activists have moved to go public. She faces trial in Saudi Arabia’s specialized criminal court, which was set up to hear terrorism cases but now also weighs charges against activists.
Al-Otaibi’s sister, Fouz, also faces charges but fled Saudi Arabia, according to ALQST. Another sister, Maryam, was arrested and released with a travel ban in 2017 after 104 days in detention for living independently without her father’s permission and protesting male guardianship rules.
Saudi Arabia’s male guardianship system requires women to seek permission to travel, marry, live and in legal affairs.
Several activists have been arrested for speaking out against Saudi rules, or following dissidents who do so, on social media. This includes Salma al-Shehab, a former PhD student at the University of Leeds who is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence.
Another is US citizen Saad Ibrahim Almadi, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison for tweets he posted abroad. Saudi Arabia released him in March, despite facing a travel ban preventing him from returning home to Florida.
Onderwerpen: Fitness, Saudi Arabia