Saudi Arabia’s treatment of women’s rights activists continues to raise significant global concerns regarding gender equality, justice, and human rights. While the Saudi government promotes a narrative of reform, real-world cases tell a starkly different story. The forcible disappearance of Manahel al-Otaibi, a fitness instructor sentenced to 11 years in prison for social media posts advocating for women’s rights, highlights the ongoing suppression of dissent. Her case is not unique; it is part of a broader crackdown on freedom of expression in the kingdom, disproportionately targeting women who challenge restrictive laws.
The case of Manahel Al-Otaibi: Imprisoned for social media activism
On 9 January 2024, Manahel al-Otaibi was sentenced in a secret trial by Saudi Arabia’s Specialized Criminal Court (SCC), a tribunal often used to silence activists under the guise of counter-terrorism. Her charges stemmed from her online advocacy for women’s rights, including posts calling for an end to the male guardianship system, sharing videos of herself in attire deemed "indecent" by authorities, and going to public spaces without an abaya (a traditional dress).
Her last known contact was on 15 December 2024, after which she has been forcibly disappeared, a practice classified as a crime under international law. Her family, despite repeated attempts, has received no information on her whereabouts. Given the documented history of torture, solitary confinement, and ill-treatment in Saudi prisons, concerns for her well-being and physical integrity are rising.
The Saudi government has previously subjected her to incommunicado detention, and reports indicate that during such periods, she faced beatings by fellow prisoners and guards, solitary confinement, and medical neglect. Her case exemplifies the wider pattern of state repression against women’s rights defenders in Saudi Arabia.
A systematic crackdown on women’s rights defenders
While Saudi authorities claim to be advancing women’s rights reforms, the reality contradicts these assertions. The imprisonment of activists like Loujain al-Hathloul, who led campaigns to lift the driving ban on women, illustrates how women who demand reform are criminalized rather than celebrated.
· Loujain al-Hathloul, arrested in 2018, was sentenced to almost six years in prison for her activism. She was reportedly tortured, subjected to electric shocks, and sexually harassed while in detention. Although released in 2021, she remains under travel bans and restrictions.
· Nourah al-Qahtani, sentenced to 45 years in prison in 2022, was accused of "using social media to disrupt public order." Her case set a precedent for the kingdom’s increasing severity in punishing online dissent.
· Salma al-Shehab, a doctoral student at the University of Leeds, was sentenced to 34 years in prison (later reduced) for retweeting posts that supported women's rights.
These cases form part of a broader pattern of judicial repression that disproportionately targets women. Saudi courts frequently use vague laws to criminalize activism, leveraging accusations such as "disrupting public order" or "cybercrime" to justify long prison sentences.
The data behind gender inequality and repression
Saudi Arabia ranks 131 out of 146 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, highlighting persistent economic, educational, and political disparities.
· Women’s labour force participation in Saudi Arabia stands at 37%, significantly below the global average of 50%.
· Only 19.9% of parliamentary seats in Saudi Arabia are held by women, despite global initiatives pushing for gender parity in governance.
· Over 850 million women worldwide live under extreme legal gender inequality, with Saudi Arabia among the most restrictive.
Despite introducing reforms, such as allowing women to drive in 2018 and relaxing certain guardianship laws, these legal changes have not prevented the imprisonment and persecution of activists fighting for broader rights.
International response and global collaboration
The United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly condemned Saudi Arabia’s crackdown on dissent. However, geopolitical and economic interests often overshadow human rights concerns.
· Saudi Arabia continues to hold leadership positions in UN agencies while engaging in severe human rights abuses.
· In 2023, FIFA faced backlash after considering a sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia’s tourism authority, despite the country’s ongoing suppression of women’s rights activists.
· Western nations have been criticised for prioritizing economic partnerships over human rights advocacy, as evidenced by continued arms sales and investments in Saudi infrastructure projects.
A call for global accountability
The international community must demand accountability and transparency regarding the detention of Manahel al-Otaibi and others unjustly imprisoned for advocating gender equality. The global society plays a crucial role in amplifying voices that authoritarian regimes seek to silence.
To achieve true gender equality, justice, and strong institutions, governments, international organisations, and civil society must exert sustained pressure on Saudi Arabia to uphold its human rights obligations.
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