UN Experts Urge Release of Saudi Women Detained for Criticism on Twitter
United Nations human rights authorities demanded the release of two Saudi Arabian women, Salma al-Shehab and Nourah bint Saeed al-Qahtani, on Friday. They claim these women were detained unlawfully and denied basic rights following their criticism of the kingdom’s policies on Twitter.
Last summer, al-Shehab and al-Qahtani received prison sentences of 34 and 45 years respectively, following their separate arrests in 2021. They were convicted by a special court initially instituted to prosecute terror suspects, which has broadened its jurisdiction amid an intensified dissent crackdown.
The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, an independent expert panel delegated by the UN Human Rights Council, stated in its report that the women were denied due process. The group claimed that al-Shehab was subjected to “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” during her nearly two-week incommunicado detention.
The report concluded, “The arrests, treatment and lengthy sentences of al-Shehab and al-Qahtani indicate that they were discriminated against for their human rights activism and for sharing their views peacefully on social media.”
Saudi authorities refuted these allegations in the 17-page UN report, questioning the information source and asserting the judiciary’s independence. Meanwhile, international human rights organizations continue to advocate for their release.
