In the most recent Amnesty Urgent Action Letter, the Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union has written a letter to Waleed Mohammed Al Smani, Minister of Justice of Saudi Arabia, urging him to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Manahel al-Otaibi. In our letter, we called for all charges against her to be dropped and for her protection from torture and other ill-treatment while in custody.
“Manahel al-Otaibi used her voice to call for change, and is being unjustly punished for it,” said Jessanna Jones, TRUSU Indigenous Representative. “Writing this letter was our way of showing her that she is not alone, and reminding the authorities that the world is watching and standing with her.”
Ms. al-Otaibi is a Saudi fitness instructor and women’s rights advocate who was arrested in November 2022 for peacefully challenging male guardianship laws and posting photos without an abaya on social media. She was charged under the country’s Anti-Cybercrime Law and sentenced to 11 years in prison. Ms. al-Otaibi, was forcibly disappeared for over seven months and subjected to torture, solitary confinement, and denial of medical care, despite living with multiple sclerosis. These actions violate both international human rights standards and Saudi Arabia’s own laws.
Her case is part of a broader pattern of repression in Saudi Arabia, where women and activists face harassment, violence, and imprisonment for advocating for positive change. Despite lifting some restrictions in recent years, the Saudi government continues to criminalize peaceful expression, using vague laws to target those who speak out. Manahel’s imprisonment reflects the continued efforts to control women’s bodies, silence dissent, and intimidate those who fight for equality.
“When I think about Manahel, I think about the cost of courage,” Jones reflected. “She risked everything just to live freely and speak out against injustice. It’s a miscarriage of justice that she’s being punished for that, but it’s exactly why we must keep holding the Saudi government accountable—to uphold its obligations under international law.”
We await a response from the Minister of Justice on this urgent matter.
For more Information
The Amnesty Urgent Action Program allows the Union to take action regarding international human rights injustices that matter to students. Click this link to see injustices we have addressed previously, and for further information about this issue or to see a copy of the letter, contact the Equity Coordinator below.