For Immediate Release – Dateline May 21st 2023

“No Practical Help” for UK Student Held Captive in Saudi Arabia

Campaigners Urge UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly To U-Turn

Supporters of the campaign to secure the release of Salma al-Shehab - a University of Leeds student currently unjustly imprisoned in Saudi Arabia - have reacted with dismay and astonishment after UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly declined to take action to help her.

Ms al-Shehab was jailed for the non-existent "crime" of using Twitter, where - whilst in the UK - she tweeted in favour of women’s rights and basic freedoms in Saudi Arabia. After a grossly unfair trial and a lengthy period of solitary confinement, she was sentenced to 27 years in prison - the longest given in Saudi Arabia to a female human rights defender at the time.

Numerous pleas to the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) over many months have either been ignored or received standard replies - stating that the Government supports human rights, without outlining any concrete measures.

Practical Steps (“Salma’s Charter”) Rejected by James Cleverly

In a new development, the FCDO has declined to support ANY of the practical measures outlined in “Salma’s Charter” (reproduced below). These steps would ensure that the full weight of our international influence was used to pressurise her Saudi jailers.

Not only has Mr Cleverly refused to support these suggested actions, but he has failed to produce any counter-proposals.

New Danger

This refusal to help Ms al-Shehab comes in the full knowledge that her situation has recently become more dangerous. She is now on hunger strike, in protest against her harsh and inhuman treatment, which is suspected to include torture.

James Cleverly Condemned

Campaign supporter Peter Delizio said "Of course the Government can’t wave a magic wand and free Salma. But if it does nothing, nothing will happen. We know that the Saudi Government is sensitive to concerted international pressure. James Cleverly announced a new policy of standing up to repressive regimes. Why not start by putting serious pressure on the Saudi Government to release a UK University student, unjustly and harshly imprisoned for posting on social media while on UK soil? So far, all he has done is meekly mention her case, reluctantly, on a few occasions with no follow-up action."

Call To Action

Supporters of the campaign for Ms al-Shehab’s release are calling on the public to contact their own MP, and the Foreign Secretary, urging them to commit to the types of action listed above.

International Support

Ms al-Shehab's case is supported by her MP, former Cabinet member Hilary Benn, Leeds University, senior US Senators Dick Durbin and Chris Murphy and a wide range of national and international organisations, including Amnesty International and the ALQST human rights organisation.

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Notes for Editors

1. Salam al-Shehab is a PhD student at Leeds University in the UK and a mother of two young children. She was first detained in January 2021 while on holiday in Saudi Arabia, just days before she planned to return to the UK where she resided.

2. Salma was arrested in January 2021 while on holiday in Saudi Arabia, and subjected to solitary confinement and lengthy sessions of questioning over a period of nine and a half months before being brought before the Specialised Criminal Court (SCC), a court used as an instrument of repression to silence dissent in Saudi Arabia.

3. She was sentenced under Saudi Arabia’s draconian Counter-Terrorism Law, facing charges including of publishing tweets “that disrupt the public order”, in connection with posts on her account (@I_Salma1988) where she expressed support for Saudi prisoners of conscience such as women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul.

4. Initially handed a six-year sentence in March 2022, Salma’s sentence has since increased to a shocking 27 years, followed by a 27 year travel ban - one of the longest known prison sentences handed down against a peaceful activist for their free speech in Saudi Arabia.

5. "Salma's Charter"

- Raise Salma's case at every meeting, contact or engagement and in all correspondence with all Saudi Ministers, officials, trade, cultural and sporting representatives;

- Table motions at all forums of which Saudi Arabia is a member, calling for her urgent release and guarantee of safe conduct and appropriate medical attention;

- Refuse to accredit any new Saudi Ambassadors, Embassy officials or other representatives of the Saudi Government or public bodies;

- Block any invitations to Saudi state representatives to public occasions - eg, the Coronation, sporting events;

- Initiate debates in both Houses of Parliament on her treatment and the urgent need for her release;

- Contact senior executives in Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media companies, requiring them to ensure that the safety of their users is protected from Saudi harassment and interference.

6. Salma's case is supported by UK MP Hilary Benn, senior US Senators Dianne Feinstein, Dick Durbin and Chris Murphy, over 400 UK academics and at least 35 international organisations. The link below lists just some of them. (None of the individuals or organisations mentioned in this Press Release are responsible for its contents.)

https://alqst.org/en/post/saudi-authorities-must-release-womens-rights-activist-salma-al-shehab

7. The FCDO was asked for any comments for inclusion in this Press Release, but did not reply.