Saudi Arabia has jailed a female fitness instructor over what Amnesty International said was her “choice of clothing and expression of her views online”.
The Middle Eastern kingdom confirmed the 11-year sentence handed down to Manahel al-Otaibi for what it said were unspecified “terrorism offences”.
Amnesty and ALQST, a London-based group advocating for human rights in Saudi Arabia, said: “Her charges related solely to her choice of clothing and expression of her views online, including calling on social media for an end to Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system, publishing videos of herself wearing 'indecent clothes' and 'going to the shops without wearing an abaya”.
They issued the joint statement after the details of the sentence were revealed in a letter sent by the Saudi authorities to the UN in January.
Al-Otaibi, who posted fitness videos on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, faced charges of "defaming the kingdom at home and abroad, calling for rebellion against public order and society's traditions and customs, and challenging the judiciary and its justice," according to court documents.
Her posts included advocacy for liberal dress codes for women, LGBTQ+ rights and the abolition of Saudi Arabia male guardianship laws.
She was also accused of appearing in indecent clothing and posting Arabic hashtags that include the phrase "overthrow the government."
Al-Otaibi has been detained since November 2022. Her sister Fouz faced similar charges but fled Saudi Arabia, according to ALQST.
The kingdom's letter said the Saudi government "wishes to underscore the fact that the exercise and defense of rights is not a crime under Saudi law; however, justifying the actions of terrorists by describing them as exercising or defending rights is unacceptable and constitutes an attempt to legitimizeterrorist crimes."
The case highlights another side of the kingdom, now run day-to-day by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who under his 88-year-old father King Salman has liberalised some aspects of women's lives in the country.
Since 2018, women have been allowed to drive and other restrictions have been lifted in the once-ultraconservative kingdom as it tries to rapidly diversify its oil-based economy.
That came as Prince Mohammed solidified his power, partly by imprisoning members of the Saudi elite as his father retains formal control in the kingdom.
Several activists have been arrested for denouncing Saudi rules, or following dissidents who do so, on social media.
This includes Salma al-Shehab, a former doctoral student at Leeds University who is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence.
