Congressman and former Defense Secretary Hilary Benn raised the case of Salma al Shehab with Liz Truss foreign secret | UK News
There are calls from a former international development secretary for Liz Truss to intervene after a student at the University of Leeds was jailed in Saudi Arabia for 34 years for using Twitter.
Human rights activist Salma al Shehab has give sentence to follow activists and dissidents on Twitter.
Ms al Shehab, 34, a Saudi national and mother of two, is studying for a doctorate at the University of Leeds School of Medicine.
Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central and former international development secretary under Tony Blair, sent a letter to the current secretary of state asking for assistance.
He wrote to Ms. Truss: “Mrs al Shehab has two young sons and a husband, and I am sure you will agree with me that this is a completely shocking verdict, completely contrary to the claims of her Saudi Arabia is to improve human rights, in particular for women.
“I would be very grateful if you could represent the Saudi authorities on behalf of Ms al Shehab so that she can be free to return to her family and attend the University of Leeds.”
Ms. al Shehab was initially arrested in January 2021 while on vacation.
She was initially sentenced to three years in prison for using the internet to “destabilize the public and destabilize national and civil security” – but was given a new sentence on August 15 after an appeals court was asked to consider other alleged crimes.
A spokesperson for the University of Leeds said: “We are extremely concerned to learn of the recent developments in Salma’s case and we are seeking advice on what we can do to assist. her or not.
“Our thoughts remain with Salma, her family and friends in our close-knit community of graduate researchers.”
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June: Truss refuses to criticize Saudi Arabia
It is understood that ministers and senior officials have repeatedly raised concerns about the detention of women’s rights defenders with the Saudi authorities and will continue to do so.
Speaking earlier this year before the leadership race began, Ms Truss declined to criticize Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, saying the country was an “important partner of the UK”.
