human rights defender

Fatima Al-Shawarbi

Urgent support needed

Fatima Al-Shawarbi is experiencing a severe decline in both her physical and mental health while in prison.

HRD's Gender

Woman

Type of HRD

  • Journalist/Blogger

HRD's thematic area of engagement

  • Civil and political rights
  • Women's rights

Current Status

In prison (sentenced)

HRD's bio and work

Fatima Al-Shawarbi is a Saudi human rights defender who was arrested after publishing a series of tweets advocating for prisoners' rights and criticizing the growing arrests of citizens for peacefully expressing their opinions.

Detained since

Sep 1, 2020

Sentence

30 years

Latitude: 26.33716

Longitude: 49.95834

Geolocation of detention

Country or area of detention

Region of detention

  • Asia: Western Asia

Recent case update / evolution

In May 2023, the Specialised Criminal Court of Appeal issued a 30-year and 6-month prison sentence against Fatima Al-Shawarbi, and banned her from traveling for a similar period after completing her sentence. She was found guilty of using an anonymous Twitter account in order to defend prisoners of conscience and women’s rights as well as highlight unemployment. Al-Shawarbi's trial was held in secret, and therefore little is known about her case and the exact charges that were brought against her.

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