Saudi women’s rights defender sentenced to 11 years in prison for social media activism
Name(s):
Manahel al-Otaibi
Status:
Detained incommunicado
Year of birth:
1994
Profession:
Fitness instructor
Nationality:
Saudi
Date of arrest:
Manahel Nasser al-Otaibi is a Saudi fitness instructor and blogger residing in Riyadh who was vocal about female empowerment on her social media platforms. On November 16, 2022, she was summoned for interrogation at the al-Sahafa police station in Riyadh because of her social media engagement. That same day she has been transferred to al-Malaz Prison, where she is detained ever since. Al-Otaibi is being held incommunicado since November 5, 20232. She was sentenced on January 9, 2024, to 11 years in prison on trumped-up terrorism offences.
Manahel al-Otaibi is a popular blogger and fitness instructor on social media in Saudi Arabia. Prior to her arrest,l al-Otaibi was active on Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram where she shared fitness videos as well as peaceful posts advocating for liberal dress codes for women, LGBTQ+ rights and the abolition of male guardianship. She was particularly vocal about violations of the fundamental rights of women within the kingdom, notably using hashtags that translate to #societyisready and #abolishguardianship to call for reform of the male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia. Al-Otaibi also once walked in the streets of Riyadh to go to the market without wearing an abaya nor a hijab.
On November 16, 2022, al-Otaibi was summoned for interrogation at the al-Sahafa police station in Riyadh, where she was mainly questioned about her social media activity regarding women’s rights and her outings without proper clothing.
During her interrogation, she was not provided with an attorney, nor was she informed of the charges against her. After her questioning, the police officers did not permit al-Otaibi to go back home, and instead transferred her to al-Malaz prison in Riyadh without an arrest warrant.
On January 18, 2023, she appeared before the Criminal Court of Riyadh. The judge dismissed her case and transferred it to the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) which has exclusive jurisdiction over crimes falling under the 2017 Anti-Terrorism Law and has been notoriously used to sentence human rights defenders to lengthy prison sentences.
On July 19, 2023, al-Otaibi’s trial started before the SCC in Riyadh, where she was charged with various fabricated terrorist crimes. She was pressured to confess by her state-appointed lawyer but refused to do so. Her trial was adjourned without justification to an unknown date.
Since the beginning of her detention in al-Malaz prison in Riyadh, al-Otaibi has been subjected to various forms of physical and psychological abuse from another inmate, including beatings, bites, and death threats. Her relatives lost all contact with her since November 5, 2023.
On November 29, 2023, MENA Rights Group and ALQST for Human Rights submitted her case to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and requested its urgent intervention.
In addition, on December 14, 2023, MENA Rights Group and ALQST for Human Rights submitted Manahel’s case to the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders (SRHRD), requestions her urgent intervention.
Mandate holders of the UN Special Procedures including the SRHRD issued a communication on al-Otaibi and her sister Fouz, sharing their concern over al-Otaibi’s pending trial. They urged the Saudi authorities to provide information concerning the legal grounds for the arrest and detention of al-Otaibi.
In the State reply to the SRHRD’s communication, the Saudi government revealed that she was sentenced on January 9, 2024, for “having committed terrorist offences punishable under articles 43 and 44 of the Terrorist Crimes and Terrorism Financing Act”. The hearing was held in complete secrecy and her family was not informed that she had been sentenced.
After more than four months of incommunicado detention, al-Otaibi was able to call a member of her family on April 14, 2024, and informed them that she is being held in inhumane conditions in solitary confinement. She explained that she has a broken leg due to physical abuse and that she is denied any medical visits.
On November 3, 2024, the Specialised Criminal Court of Appeal confirmed and upheld the 11-year prison sentence against al-Otaibi.
| Name(s): |
Manahel al-Otaibi
|
| Status: |
Detained incommunicado
|
| Year of birth: |
1994
|
| Profession: |
Fitness instructor
|
| Nationality: |
Saudi
|
| Date of arrest: |
|
Manahel al-Otaibi is a popular blogger and fitness instructor on social media in Saudi Arabia. Prior to her arrest,l al-Otaibi was active on Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram where she shared fitness videos as well as peaceful posts advocating for liberal dress codes for women, LGBTQ+ rights and the abolition of male guardianship. She was particularly vocal about violations of the fundamental rights of women within the kingdom, notably using hashtags that translate to #societyisready and #abolishguardianship to call for reform of the male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia. Al-Otaibi also once walked in the streets of Riyadh to go to the market without wearing an abaya nor a hijab.
On November 16, 2022, al-Otaibi was summoned for interrogation at the al-Sahafa police station in Riyadh, where she was mainly questioned about her social media activity regarding women’s rights and her outings without proper clothing.
During her interrogation, she was not provided with an attorney, nor was she informed of the charges against her. After her questioning, the police officers did not permit al-Otaibi to go back home, and instead transferred her to al-Malaz prison in Riyadh without an arrest warrant.
On January 18, 2023, she appeared before the Criminal Court of Riyadh. The judge dismissed her case and transferred it to the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) which has exclusive jurisdiction over crimes falling under the 2017 Anti-Terrorism Law and has been notoriously used to sentence human rights defenders to lengthy prison sentences.
On July 19, 2023, al-Otaibi’s trial started before the SCC in Riyadh, where she was charged with various fabricated terrorist crimes. She was pressured to confess by her state-appointed lawyer but refused to do so. Her trial was adjourned without justification to an unknown date.
Since the beginning of her detention in al-Malaz prison in Riyadh, al-Otaibi has been subjected to various forms of physical and psychological abuse from another inmate, including beatings, bites, and death threats. Her relatives lost all contact with her since November 5, 2023.
On November 29, 2023, MENA Rights Group and ALQST for Human Rights submitted her case to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and requested its urgent intervention.
In addition, on December 14, 2023, MENA Rights Group and ALQST for Human Rights submitted Manahel’s case to the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders (SRHRD), requestions her urgent intervention.
Mandate holders of the UN Special Procedures including the SRHRD issued a communication on al-Otaibi and her sister Fouz, sharing their concern over al-Otaibi’s pending trial. They urged the Saudi authorities to provide information concerning the legal grounds for the arrest and detention of al-Otaibi.
In the State reply to the SRHRD’s communication, the Saudi government revealed that she was sentenced on January 9, 2024, for “having committed terrorist offences punishable under articles 43 and 44 of the Terrorist Crimes and Terrorism Financing Act”. The hearing was held in complete secrecy and her family was not informed that she had been sentenced.
After more than four months of incommunicado detention, al-Otaibi was able to call a member of her family on April 14, 2024, and informed them that she is being held in inhumane conditions in solitary confinement. She explained that she has a broken leg due to physical abuse and that she is denied any medical visits.
On November 3, 2024, the Specialised Criminal Court of Appeal confirmed and upheld the 11-year prison sentence against al-Otaibi.