In a concerning case drawing international scrutiny, Manahel al-Otaibi, a 30-year-old fitness instructor in Saudi Arabia, faces enforced disappearance after serving an 11-year sentence for advocating women’s rights through social media. Her last contact with family was on 15 December 2024, with subsequent attempts to learn about her whereabouts met with silence from prison authorities and human rights bodies. Amnesty International emphasises that this situation constitutes a crime under international law, demanding her immediate release and family access.
Manahel’s case illuminates a troubling contradiction within Saudi Arabia’s reported progress on women’s rights, as women continue to be imprisoned for expressing their opinions or defying restrictive dress codes. Bissan Fakih from Amnesty International expressed alarm over Manahel’s safety, questioning the kingdom’s claims of reform while critics like her remain behind bars for merely exercising their rights. The International community’s complicity in this hypocrisy is compounded by various public figures promoting a positive image of Saudi reforms while ignoring such abuses.
Condemned in a secret court hearing, Manahel was sentenced on 9 January 2024, accused of advocating against the oppressive male guardianship system, and occasionally wearing clothing deemed inappropriate. Previously, she was unjustly detained for over five months and suffered incommunicado torture, further raising concerns regarding her physical and mental health. Reports from family members describe a pattern of severe mistreatment and solitary confinement, leaving them in a constant state of dread about her well-being.
Manahel’s sister, Fawzia, recounts a ‘nightmare’ experience, fearing for Manahel’s safety after hearing of past torture, abuse, and medical neglect she endured while isolated from familial contact. The family is haunted by the traumatic consequences of their activism, as Fawzia herself fled Saudi Arabia to escape similar persecutions. Their plight underscores the dangerous environment for activists and human rights defenders within the kingdom, painfully stating that each lost connection sends her family into panic.
Amnesty’s investigations reveal a vicious trend of intensified crackdowns on free expression in Saudi Arabia, with numerous activists like Abdulrahman al-Sadhan and Nourah al-Qahtani facing alarming prison terms for their outspoken views. With calls for immediate and unconditional release of Manahel al-Otaibi and others, the message from Amnesty International is clear: the Saudi authorities must acknowledge their wrongdoings and restore human rights in their realm. Until justice is served, the organisation demands full disclosure of Manahel’s health status and safety, pressing for humanitarian intervention in her plight.
Manahel al-Otaibi, a 30-year-old Saudi woman and champion for women’s rights, has been forcibly disappeared after being sentenced to 11 years in prison. Her last communication was in December 2024, and her family’s desperate attempts to find her have been ignored by authorities. Advocates like Amnesty International stress the importance of revealing her whereabouts and condemning the ongoing mistreatment of activists in Saudi Arabia.
Manahel al-Otaibi’s case epitomises Saudi Arabia’s ongoing repression of women’s rights advocates and freedom of expression. Despite the government’s assertions of progress in women’s rights, activists continue to face severe repercussions for their voices. With international attention intensifying, it remains imperative for the authorities to rectify these injustices and provide transparency regarding those unjustly imprisoned. The plight of Manahel and her sister, who suffered under oppressive circumstances, underlines the urgent need for global support in advocating for human rights and the elevation of individual liberties in the kingdom, reinforcing the demand for their unconditional release and safety.
Original Source: www.amnesty.org
