Saudi Crackdown on Critical Online Speech
Saudi fitness influencer Manahel al-Otaibi sentenced to 11 years in prison for challenging Saudi male guardianship laws and social media posts, part of a crackdown on critical online speech in Saudi Arabia.
Key Points
- Multiple individuals sentenced to lengthy prison terms for online expression
- Specialised Criminal Court used to try suspects accused of terrorism
- Saudi authorities do not often comment on these cases
Pros
- Highlighting human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia
- Raising awareness about the lack of freedom of expression in the country
Cons
- Violation of freedom of speech and expression
- Harsh sentencing for individuals expressing dissenting views