Arabie saoudite
Saudi authorities have released Salma al-Shehab, a Saudi doctoral student at Leeds University in the UK, who was initially sentenced to 34 years in prison over her Twitter activity. Her case had drawn widespread international condemnation from human rights organizations and academic communities.
Al-Shehab was arrested in January 2021 during a family visit to Saudi Arabia. She was convicted based solely on her Twitter activity, which included supporting women's rights and retweeting dissident accounts. In 2022, she was sentenced to 34 years in prison, a verdict that sparked global outrage.
In January 2025, her sentence was reduced to four years in prison, with an additional four years suspended. Following this reduction, al-Shehab was released, as reported by the London-based Saudi rights group ALQST and Amnesty International. However, Saudi authorities have not officially acknowledged her release.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Freedom House, have criticized the harsh treatment and lack of fair trial in al-Shehab's case. Amnesty reported that she spent 300 days in solitary confinement and was denied legal representation, highlighting systemic issues within the Saudi judicial system.
Al-Shehab's case is emblematic of the broader crackdown on dissent under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite some social reforms such as lifting the women's driving ban. Her release, while welcomed, does not alleviate concerns over the suppression of free speech and the use of the legal system to silence critics.
The release of Salma al-Shehab underscores the ongoing tensions between Saudi Arabia's modernization efforts and its human rights record. The international community continues to call for reforms that ensure freedom of expression and fair judicial processes within the Kingdom.
