Loujain al-Hathloul: Saudi women’s rights activists appeal dismissed by court

by

The 31-year-old was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison in December on what critics have described as politically motivated charges, but was released in February after spending more than 1,000 days behind bars. She appealed for her sentence to be revoked and a five-year travel ban lifted.

On the way to Wednesday’s hearing, Hathloul told reporters that she hoped Riyadh’s specialized criminal court would change her verdict – her first public comments since her arrest in 2018. However, the court ruled that the original verdict should be upheld.

“The judge dismissed the appeal and upheld the sentence to five years and eight months in prison, including 3 years probation and a 5 year travel ban during which Leuven cannot leave Saudi Arabia at any time,” said a statement of her campaign. .

Hathloul was detained in May 2018 during a sweep targeting other known opponents of the kingdom’s now-repealed law prohibiting women from driving. She had also challenged other legal restrictions on Saudi women imposed under the kingdom’s restrictive system of male tutelage.

She told her family that she had been tortured and sexually assaulted in prison – allegations Riyadh has repeatedly denied – and that her detention was condemned by the United Nations and international rights groups.

According to her campaign, Hathloul’s sentence includes restrictions signed by her stating that she “cannot speak publicly about her case or reveal details about the prison, nor celebrate her release at a public level”.

In a statement in December, Hathloul’s family said she would remain on probation for three years, during which time she could be arrested for any alleged illegal activity.

Her release in February came less than a week after the White House called on the kingdom to release political prisoners, including women’s rights activists. US President Joe Biden has vowed to pressure Saudi Arabia to improve its rights record, bidding farewell to the Trump administration, which has been reluctant to criticize the crackdown on dissent.

The terrorist court convicted Hathloul on charges of harming national security, trying to change the Saudi political system, and using her relations with foreign governments and rights groups to “pressure the Kingdom for its laws and systems. to change, ”a letter of complaint said to her family. published in December.

UN experts have called the charges against Hathloul “false”. In a six-page indictment form for Hathloul’s case seen by CNN, a section entitled “ Crimes committed ” includes activism against the kingdom’s restrictive male custody laws, along with contact with foreign journalists and diplomats.
Saudi women's empowerment 'a lie', Loujain al-Hathloul's siblings say day after release
The charges were also based on a series of alleged confessions, according to the documents, stating that Hathloul admitted to applying for a job at the UN and had been in contact with human rights organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

During much of her imprisonment, Hathloul told her parents about her hardships during their prison visits. Those allegations were later made public by three of her siblings living outside the kingdom, and were corroborated by testimony from other female activists.

Hathloul said she was sexually assaulted and tortured during her detention, including waterboarding, flogging and electrocution, according to multiple statements from her family and supporters.

Saudi authorities have repeatedly denied allegations of torture and sexual abuse in their prisons.

According to her family, Hathloul has gone on hunger strike twice – in protest at the conditions in her prison and because she was denied communication with her relatives.

Hathloul’s sister, Lina al-Hathloul, who has been a driving force behind an international campaign for her release, shared a photo of her sister going to court on Wednesday and commenting on the ruling.

“The international community should be outraged by this judgment and really take the time to study their conscience as they continue to do business with Saudi Arabia,” Lina Al-Hathloul said Wednesday, the campaign said.

CNN’s Mostafa Salem covered Abu Dhabi, Hamdi Alkhshali from Atlanta and Eliza Mackintosh from London. Tamara Qiblawi and Kara Fox contributed to this report.

Source