Overview

• Manahel al-Otaibi was convicted for her social media advocacy against the male guardianship system and for wearing 'indecent clothes'.
• Despite Saudi claims of reform, the case has been criticized as a misuse of anti-terrorism laws to stifle freedom of expression.
• International human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have called for her immediate release, citing the sentence as a grave injustice.
• Al-Otaibi's sentencing comes amid broader accusations of Saudi Arabia using harsh penalties to silence activists and critics.
• The case has drawn attention to the ongoing restrictions and challenges faced by women in Saudi Arabia, despite some reforms.