Saudi PhD Student Salma al-Shehab Released After Controversial Sentence Reduction

Salma al-Shehab, a Saudi PhD student, was released from prison following a reduction of her sentence over social media activity deemed critical of the government, signaling a complex situation surrounding human rights and freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia.

A Saudi PhD student, Salma al-Shehab, who was pursuing her studies at the University of Leeds, has reportedly been freed from prison after her sentence regarding her social media activity was lessened, according to activists. The 36-year-old mother was detained in 2021 while visiting Saudi Arabia for a holiday. She was initially handed a six-year sentence by a terrorism tribunal for supposedly "disturbing public order" and "destabilising the social fabric" due to her posts that advocated for reforms and the release of imprisoned activists.

In a shocking turn of events, her sentence was increased to 34 years but later reduced upon appeal, first to 27 years and then to four years, with an additional four years suspended. However, there has been no immediate confirmation of her release from Saudi officials.

Rights group ALQST, based in the UK, reported Shehab's release and emphasized that she endured "four years of arbitrary imprisonment based solely on her peaceful activism." They called for her complete freedom, including the right to return to the UK for her studies.

Under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has implemented extensive measures against dissent, with many peaceful critics facing severe punishments, including long-term imprisonment and the possibility of the death penalty, all under trials many organizations deem unjust.

Shehab, who works as a dental hygienist and medical educator, had posted and shared content that supported women’s rights and the release of well-known activists. One of her posts specifically lauded prominent women’s rights advocates who were arrested just prior to the historic lifting of the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia in 2018.

Amnesty International’s Dana Ahmed spoke out about the implications of Shehab's case, stating she was convicted on terrorism-related charges simply for expressing support for women’s rights and retweeting activists in Saudi Arabia. While her release is welcomed, Ahmed urged attention to the plight of other individuals who are also serving lengthy sentences for online comments, including women like Manahel al-Otaibi and Nourah al-Qahtani, and Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, who faced a 20-year prison term for satirical tweets.

In light of these developments, the BBC has reached out to Saudi officials and the University of Leeds for further comments regarding this situation. The broader context of women's rights and free speech remains a contentious issue in Saudi Arabia, marked by numerous cases of individuals imprisoned for their online activities.