Salma al-Shehab , women\u2019s rights defender has been sentenced to 34 years in Saudi Arabian prison, the longest sentence ever given to a women\u2019s rights defender in the kingdom, researchers and activists say.<\/p>\n
al-Shehab , a Leeds University PhD candidate focused on healthcare and mother of two was on holiday in Saudi Arabia in January 2021 and had planned to return to the United Kingdom when she was detained, according to the Freedom Initiative, a Washington, DC-based human rights organisation.<\/p>\n
Al-Shehab was originally sentenced to six years in prison over tweets she posted calling for rights in the kingdom. But on an appeal last week, Saudi Arabia\u2019s Specialised Criminal Court increased the sentence to 34 years, along with a 34-year travel ban.<\/p>\n
She may not be alone: since going public about Al-Shehab\u2019s sentencing on Friday, The Freedom Initiative\u2019s Saudi case manager Bethany Al-Hudairi said she\u2019s heard credible reports of several others whose sentences were also increased dramatically during recent appeals in Saudi Arabian courts.<\/p>\n