In brief
A 36-year-old Saudi PhD student at the University of Leeds, Salma al-Shehab, has reportedly been released from prison after her lengthy sentence for online activism was reduced, activists claim. Arrested in 2021 during a holiday in Saudi Arabia, she initially received a six-year sentence from a terrorism tribunal for allegedly "disturbing public order" due to her online posts advocating for reform and the release of other activists. Her prison term dramatically escalated to 34 years but was later reduced first to 27 years and then to a suspended four-year term upon appeal.
The rights group ALQST, based in the UK, was among the first to announce Shehab's release, describing her incarceration as "arbitrary" and a consequence of her peaceful activism. They urged Saudi authorities to ensure her full freedom, including lifting travel restrictions so she could continue her studies at Leeds University. Amid a broad crackdown on dissent led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, many peaceful critics have faced severe penalties, including lengthy prison terms and even the death penalty following trials deemed unjust by human rights organizations. Shehab, a mother of two and a dental hygienist, had been sharing messages supporting the release of women's rights activists and other reform advocates prior to her arrest in Saudi Arabia. Amnesty International condemned her conviction for terrorism-related charges solely based on her tweets in support of women's rights. The organization highlighted that while Shehab's release is a cause for celebration, many others remain imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for similar online activities. Prominent examples include women like Manahel al-Otaibi and Nourah al-Qahtani, jailed for their advocacy, along with Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, who is serving a 20-year sentence for satirical posts. The BBC has sought comments from the Saudi foreign ministry and Leeds University regarding this matter.
