Saudi writer jailed following anti-UAE tweet

A Saudi court sentenced Mohammed Al-Huthaify to five years in prison for allegedly insulting allied countries on Twitter.

Al Jazeera quoted an unnamed source as saying that the Saudi court closed Al-Huthaify social media account following the post which made reference to the UAE and Egypt.

The writer has also been banned from travelling for five years following the completion of his jail term.

Saudi authorities have arrested at least 11 prominent women’s rights defenders since 11 May.

Commenting on what was happening, Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said it appeared the Saudi government was so engrossed in its attempts to silence the opposition that it re-targeted activists who kept silent for fear of reprisals. Adding that the new wave of repression could make its allies sceptical about how serious it is about changing its approach to women’s rights.

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