Saudi women's rights activist faces brutal prison abuse

Manahel al-Otaibi, a 30-year-old fitness instructor and women's rights activist was attacked in prison. In January 2024, she was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for "terrorism," and she is currently being persecuted behind closed doors.

Activism manifests in different ways. Some organise peaceful protests, while others attack works of art. In Europe, Australia, or North America, activism presents itself quite differently than in Asia or Africa, where one can end up in prison for a sideways glance or wearing trousers. Despite this, there are still people worldwide who place the fight for human rights above their safety, health, and even life. One of them is Manahel al-Otaibi, a 30-year-old fitness trainer and women's rights advocate who fought for freedom in Saudi Arabia.

In January 2024, Manahel al-Otaibi was sentenced in a secret trial by a Saudi court to 11 years' imprisonment for "terrorist offences". In practice, al-Otaibi was punished for promoting women's rights via social media. The activist was among the first to post using the hashtag "#IAmMyOwnGuardian," calling for the abolition of the male guardianship system. Under this system, a woman must receive permission from her husband or another male family member to travel or marry. Her sisters Maryam and Fawzia also used the hashtag alongside Manahel.

Everyone did not receive the sisters' campaign well. They were threatened, intimidated, and arrested. As a result, in 2022, Saudi authorities accused Manahel al-Otaibi of "conducting a propaganda campaign aimed at persuading girls to renounce religious principles and rebel against Saudi cultural customs and traditions." In November 2022, the activist was arrested and accused of "posting tweets supporting women's rights and pictures in which she did not wear traditional attire." During her detention, al-Otaibi was reportedly brutally beaten by both fellow inmates and guards.

The story of the arrested activist's experiences was conveyed by her sister, Fawzia, who avoided arrest by fleeing to Beirut. In an interview with "The Guardian," she said, "She was very afraid [when we spoke to her by phone], but was strong enough to tell us about the incident and what happened despite their threats to try to keep her silent. I believe they are punishing and torturing Manahel because they are unable to punish me. She told us that if communication is interrupted again next week [when she is due to call her family again] then it means they have punished her for telling us about everything that happened."

During the last attack, which took place last week, Manahel was struck in the face with a sharp object. Lina al-Hathloul, head of monitoring and advocacy at ALQST, an organization documenting human rights in Saudi Arabia, told "The Guardian": "This is the latest in a series of appalling attacks that Manahel has faced in prison, with the Saudi authorities not only turning a blind eye to the abuse but actively facilitating it, including by preventing her from making complaints, placing her in solitary confinement and putting her in cells where she is vulnerable to further violence. This is part of a wider pattern in which the authorities are callously toying with the lives of Saudi prisoners of conscience, with potentially lethal consequences."