A Saudi court confirmed on Wednesday (March 10) the sentence to more than five years in prison and a five-year travel ban for feminist activist Loujain al-Hathloul, who was released on conditions a month ago, her family said. Loujain al-Hathloul, best known for campaigning against the driving ban on women in Saudi Arabia, was arrested along with a dozen other activists in May 2018, just a few weeks before the ban was lifted. for several decades.
The 31-year-old activist was sentenced at the end of December to five years and eight months in prison under an “anti-terrorism” law, a sentence accompanied by a suspended sentence which made her quickly released because the period spent in pre-trial detention was taken. into account. She was released on February 11 but remains on parole for three years. “The judge rejected the appeal and confirmed the sentence to five years and eight months in prison, including three years on parole, and five years of travel ban during which Loujain cannot leave Saudi Arabia,” he said. his family said in a statement.
Victim of torture and sexual harassment in detention?
Loujain al-Hathloul had spoken Wednesday before the hearing, one of his first public comments since his release: “Hopefully the sentence has been changed or modified a little,” she told foreign diplomats gathered outside the anti-terrorism court in Riyadh. “The confirmation of the conviction of my sister Loujain is a new confirmation of the abuse of power by the Saudi authorities,” denounced Lina al-Hathloul, quoted in the family statement. Her family also claim that she was the victim of torture and sexual harassment in detention, charges denied by the judicial authorities.
Amnesty International condemned in a statement a “appalling injustice”. “Today’s verdict is just the latest demonstration of Saudi Arabia’s intention to continue crushing all forms of dissent inside the country,” said Lynn Maalouf, deputy director of Amnesty for the Middle East and North Africa. “By not overturning Loujain al-Hathloul’s conviction, the Saudi authorities have made it clear that they regard peaceful activism as a crime and consider activists to be traitors or spies. ”
According to the activist’s siblings who live abroad, their parents are also subject to a travel ban even though they are not charged with any crime. While some activists arrested alongside Ms. Hathloul have been released on conditions, others are still jailed on “opaque” charges, according to human rights activists.
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