The Saudi authorities should immediately and unconditionally release activists Noura Al-Qahtani, Manahil Al-Otaibi, and Israa Al-Ghomgham, and urgently disclose the fate, whereabouts,

and legal status of activist Amani Al-Zein, while ensuring her access to family contact and legal counsel of her choice.

These demands arise amid excessively harsh prison sentences, prolonged solitary confinement, incommunicado detention, and allegations of torture and ill-treatment—measures directly linked to the exercise of the right to free expression and peaceful activism. Since 2017, scores of political detainees have faced such treatment. While some activists were released earlier this year, dozens remain imprisoned, including at least four women.

No tweet, photo, or participation in a peaceful protest should serve as a gateway to decades of imprisonment and travel bans. When counter‑terrorism and cybercrime laws are applied to prosecute peaceful opinion, restrictions lose any legitimate purpose and become tools to silence dissent and dismantle civic space — amounting to arbitrary detention and violations of fair trial guarantees. The cases detailed below illustrate the severe impact of these systematic measures on individual human rights defenders.

·      Noura Al-Qahtani: Arrested on 4 July 2021 for activity on X (formerly Twitter) defending human rights and calling for the release of detainees. Initially sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment, her sentence was increased on appeal to 45 years before being reduced to 35 years, in addition to a travel ban. Reports of prolonged solitary confinement, denial of family contact, and deteriorating health warrant an independent medical examination and an immediate end to her isolation.

·      Manahil Al-Otaibi: Arrested on 16 November 2022 over posts advocating women's rights, she was sentenced in January 2024 to 11 years in closed-door proceedings, later reduced on appeal to five years plus a travel ban. Allegations of beatings, a broken leg, and solitary confinement demand an independent investigation and robust protection against retaliation for reporting torture.

·      Israa Al-Ghomgham: Detained since December 2015 for documenting peaceful protests in the Eastern Province, she initially faced the death penalty before prosecutors withdrew the request. Her eight-year sentence was later reportedly increased to 13. Imprisoning individuals for peaceful assembly directly violates fundamental freedoms; her prolonged detention and deteriorating health demand immediate independent medical care and unconditional release.

·      Amani Al-Zein: Arrested in Jeddah on 17 May 2020 following an online conversation criticizing the Crown Prince, her detention location and legal status remain undisclosed amid reports of denied family and legal contact. The authorities' prolonged refusal to acknowledge her whereabouts raises serious concerns of enforced disappearance, requiring immediate disclosure, judicial review, and absolute guarantees of her safety.

These cases reflect a broader pattern of weaponizing vague provisions in the Anti-Cybercrime and Counter-Terrorism laws against peaceful activism and online content. By referring human rights defenders to the Specialized Criminal Court and imposing disproportionate sentences, authorities violate the principle of legality, which requires crimes to be clearly defined and foreseeable. Consequently, 'security' has become a blanket justification for punishing dissent.

These risks intensify when coupled with denied family contact, restricted legal access, closed hearings, or solitary confinement. Under the UN Nelson Mandela Rules, solitary confinement exceeding 15 days is a prohibited practice that constitutes prolonged solitary confinement. Depending on its duration and effects, such isolation can amount to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, or even torture. As a state party to the Convention Against Torture, CEDAW, and the Arab Charter on Human Rights, Saudi Arabia is legally bound to prevent torture, promptly investigate all abuse allegations, protect witnesses, and uphold fundamental fair trial guarantees without discrimination.

While Saudi Arabia has not ratified the ICCPR or the International Convention against Enforced Disappearance, the prohibition of torture remains a peremptory norm of international law (jus cogens). Furthermore, secret detention without legal safeguards directly violates fundamental principles of liberty and human dignity. When committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population, enforced disappearance can constitute a crime against humanity under international law.

Institutional Position

The imprisonment of Noura Al-Qahtani, Manahil Al-Otaibi, and Israa Al-Ghamgam, alongside the unacknowledged detention of Amani Al-Zein, constitute grave violations of the right to liberty, freedom of expression, and the protections afforded to detainees under international human rights law. The absence of transparent judicial proceedings, compounded by the use of prolonged solitary confinement and allegations of torture, entrenches impunity and magnifies these violations. The weaponization of counter-terrorism and cybercrime laws against peaceful activists, combined with the denial of family contact and legal counsel, represents a direct attack on human dignity and civic space. The failure of authorities to investigate allegations of ill-treatment or provide verifiable information on disappeared detainees erodes the legal safeguards necessary for prisoner protection and public accountability. Immediate corrective measures are required to secure justice for the victims and ensure compliance with international human rights obligations.

Demands Aligned with International Human Rights Principles

Women Journalists Without Chains

Geneva, Switzerland — July 18, 2026