A Saudi PhD student studying at the University of Leeds has regained her freedom after a Saudi court reduced her prison sentence linked to her critical social media activity, according to reports from activists.
Salma al-Shehab, a 36-year-old mother of two, was detained in 2021 while vacationing in Saudi Arabia. She was subsequently sentenced by a terrorism tribunal to six years in prison on charges of ‘disturbing public order’ and ‘destabilizing the social fabric’ due to her posts advocating for reforms and the liberation of fellow activists.
Sentence reduction amid international scrutiny
Her initial sentence was unexpectedly escalated to 34 years but was later appealed and reduced on two separate occasions—first to 27 years and subsequently to four years, with an additional four years suspended. As of now, there has been no immediate confirmation from Saudi Arabian authorities regarding her release.
“Her full freedom must now be granted, including the right to travel to complete her studies at Leeds University,”
stated ALQST, a UK-based Saudi rights organization that first reported on Shehab’s release. The group characterized her imprisonment as ‘arbitrary,’ emphasizing that it stemmed from her peaceful activism.
Continued repression of dissent in Saudi Arabia
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who exercises considerable control over Saudi Arabia, has been criticized for implementing a broad crackdown on dissent over the past eight years. This repression has led to lengthy prison sentences for peaceful critics on social media, with some facing the death penalty following trials deemed unfair by human rights organizations.
Shehab, who works as a dental hygienist and medical educator, was nearing the completion of her studies at the University of Leeds’ School of Medicine. Prior to her trip to Saudi Arabia five years ago, she utilized social media to call for reforms and advocate for the release of notable activists, clerics, and other intellectuals. One of her posts recognized a group of prominent women’s rights activists as ‘prisoners of conscience,’ who were arrested just before the lifting of the ban on women driving in 2018.
Dana Ahmed, a Middle East researcher for Amnesty International, noted that Shehab was convicted on terrorism charges solely for expressing support for women’s rights and for retweeting other Saudi women’s rights activists. “While today is a day to celebrate Salma’s release, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the many others serving similarly lengthy sentences in Saudi Arabia for their activities online,” she remarked.
Highlighting the ongoing repression, Ahmed pointed out other women currently imprisoned for their advocacy, including Manahel al-Otaibi and Nourah al-Qahtani, who are serving sentences for speaking out on women’s rights. Additionally, Abdulrahman al-Sadhan is imprisoned for 20 years due to satirical tweets.
The BBC has reached out to the Saudi foreign ministry and the University of Leeds for further comments concerning this case.