Help quash Loujain’s sentence

Saudi women's rights defender Loujain al-Hathloul was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison in December 2020.

She has since been released on strict probation conditions and faces a five-year travel ban. Despite her release from prison, Loujain is far from free.

Loujain's unjust imprisonment

In May 2018, Loujain al-Hathloul was arrested and detained without charge or trial until March 2019. For the first three months of detention, Loujain endured torture, sexual abuse and other ill-treatment and had no access to her family or lawyer.

Loujain is a women's rights defender who peacefully campaigned for an end to the male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia and fought for women's right to drive. For this, she was convicted of trumped-up charges, including “spying with foreign parties” and “conspiring against the kingdom.”

Nearly 3 years after her arrest, Loujain was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison, with partial suspension of two years and 10 months, including the time she had already served in detention since May 2018.

Loujain's conditional release

On 10 February 2021, Loujain was conditionally released from prison.

Despite her release from prison, Loujain is not free yet. She continues to face probation, which means she faces the risk of re-imprisonment and a travel ban of five years. In addition, she continues to be denied access to justice and accountability for her allegations of torture, and is banned from talking about her time in prison.

On 10 March, Loujain appealed her sentence, but the verdict was upheld. Loujain demanded that the regular Criminal Court investigate her claims of being subjected to acts of torture and harrassment during her detention. The Criminal Court confirmed the Public Prosecutor's decision that no torture had taken place, and effectively placing the burden of proof on Loujain.

Email the Saudi embassy and call on them to help ensure that Loujain's sentence is quashed, that her travel ban is lifted and her allegations of torture and other ill-treatment whilst in prison are investigated. Furthermore, the Saudi authorities should ensure Loujain is able to safely continue her human rights work without intimidation or fear of prosecution.

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Email the Saudi embassy and call on them to help quash Loujain's sentence and to ensure her claims of torture in detention are investigated.

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I am writing to you regarding the release of Loujain al-Hathloul. Despite her release from prison after almost three years, Loujain is far from free. She continues to face probation, which means she faces the risk of re-imprisonment and a travel ban of five years. In addition, she continues to be denied access to justice and accountability for her allegations of being tortured and harassed in prison.  Loujain recently appealed her sentence, but the verdict was upheld. As part of her appeal, Loujain demanded that the regular Criminal Court investigate her claims of being subjected to acts of torture and harrassment during her detention. The Criminal Court confirmed the Public Prosecutor's decision that no torture had taken place, and effectively placing the burden of proof on Loujain, who then took the case to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal in turn confirmed the primary verdict of the Criminal Court that no torture had taken place.

I urge you to help ensure that Loujain al-Hathloul’s conviction and sentence are quashed as she was detained and tried solely for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression. I also urge you to help ensure Loujain al-Hathloul’s freedom of movement and travel by lifting the ban imposed on her for the coming five years, as well as removing the travel ban on her parents. Furthermore, I call on you to help ensure an impartial, effective investigation into the reports of Loujain al-Hathloul being tortured, harassed and ill-treated in prison, prosecuting those suspected of responsibility in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty and providing Loujain al-Hathloul with a remedy.

Loujain al-Hathloul peacefully campaigned for an end to the male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia and fought for women's right to drive. For this, she was convicted of trumped-up charges, including “spying with foreign parties” and “conspiring against the kingdom.” I urge your government to help ensure Loujain al-Hathloul’s safety and protection from threats, harassment and any kind of punitive measures, to enable her to safely continue her human rights work without intimidation or fear of prosecution.

Yours sincerely,

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