Loujain al-Hathloul, the Saudi activist sentenced to nearly six years in prison

  • Loujain al-Hathloul, one of the most prominent women’s rights activists from Saudi Arabia, was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison by a Saudi Specialised Criminal Court (created in 2008). 
  • The Saudi Arabian authorities have charged her under the state’s broad counter-terrorism laws for undermining national security and trying to change the political system of the country.
  • However, al-Hathloul’s prison sentence will end in March 2021, since the court has suspended 34 months of her sentence and has calculated the prison verdict from May 2018 onwards, when she was first detained by the authorities.

LOUJAIN AL-HATHLOUL AND HER ROLE

  • al-Hathloul has been instrumental in the movement to lift the driving ban on women and the “Wilayah” male guardianship system.
  • In 2014, al-Hathloul, who had a driving license issued in the UAE, was detained for 73 days for attempting to drive into Saudi Arabia from the UAE.
  • In 2015, al-Hathloul stood for elections in Saudi Arabia, which was also the first time that women were allowed to vote and stand for elections.
  • al-Hathloul was also detained in 2018 on grounds of national security. 

STATUS OF FREEDOM IN SAUDI ARABIA

  • Even though Saudi Arabia seems to be progressing towards a more open society, the state has been criticised for repressing the freedom of expression, association and assembly.
  • While Khashoggi’s murder has been one of the most high-profile cases, there are other instances as well.
  • The Saudi Arabian authorities lifted the ban on women drivers only in 2018, it being the only country to have such a ban at the time.
  • It was only in August, 2019 that Saudi Arabian women were allowed to travel abroad without obtaining permission from a male guardian, apply for passports and register their marriages and divorces.


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