Pen used in assault on Manahel al-Otaibi, who has been imprisoned for 11 years for ‘terrorist’ tweets after secret trial

A Saudi Arabian fitness instructor and influencer has been stabbed in the face in prison after being jailed in January for promoting women’s rights on social media.

Manahel al-Otaibi, 30, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for “terrorist offences” in a secret trial that generated widespread criticism, with activists saying it showed the “hollowness” of Saudi progress in human rights.

This week, Manahel told her family she had been stabbed in the face with a sharp pen by an unknown assailant and required stitches. Her family said they had tried to report the attack to the Saudi government’s Human Rights Commission, but were ignored.

Along with her sisters, Maryam and Fawzia, Manahel had been targeted with a campaign of arrests, threats and intimidation after posting messages about female empowerment.

    • pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 months ago

      The U.S. has a lot of fuckin things wrong with it but goddamn it’s nice you can’t be jailed for talking about how terrible it is

      • Random_Character_A@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Don’t jinx it.

        World is becoming increasingly right wing because people spend their time in echo chambers of threats. It becomes more important to stop or prevent a thing than help or build a thing.

        There is a point where right wingers stop talking about free speech and start bringing surveillance, censorship and severe punishments, because threats.

      • prole
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        2 months ago

        Just a reminder that Trump has vowed to punish his political opponents.

        Don’t think this can’t happen here.

        • pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          2 months ago

          Tell that to Assange, Snowden, and pals

          Sharing classified material != Criticism of the government