Prominent woman’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has been sentenced to serve more than 5 years in jail by the Saudi Arabian court. The law has charged Hathloul with allegations of putting national security in danger and seeking ways to alter the political system.
The judgment has brought foreign attention and the verdict is being condemned worldwide. Hathloul has been under arrest along with other reformers since early 2018 and have been met with mistreatment.
Hathloul and her fellow prisoners have been victims of police brutality and have been shown no mercy. She received electric shocks, waterboarding, and sexual assault in captivity and was beaten to no end.
The news also comes at a time when the Crown Prince’s relations with U.S President-elect are being tested and pose a challenge to Mohammad bin Salman as the nation’s human rights policies are already being attacked, criticized and scrutinized.
The 31-year-old is not allowed to travel for a period of five years, disclosed her sister, and has the right to appeal in court but isn’t being given the freedom to exercise that right.
The international authorities are calling for her release as soon as possible and the United Nation Human Rights Office has termed the act as fake and laced with suspicion.
Hathloul who has been raising her voice for equal opportunities and advocating for respect and fair treatment of women has been subjected to vile and vicious charges for wanting to put an end to an oppressive centuries-old male guardianship.
Diplomats think of the trials as a way to show that the nation will not give in to the pressure from other countries regarding human rights and sends a strong message that it will continue to do as it pleases.
The prosecution has been cleared of any criminal charges against Hathloul in detention and says that it has found no evidence of the defendant being tortured and persecuted.