Hathloul, 31, has been held since 2018 following her arrest along with at least a dozen other women's rights activists. The verdict poses an early challenge to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's relationship with US President-elect Joe Biden, who has criticised Riyadh's human rights record. Activist Nassimah al-Saadah was sentenced to five years in prison with two suspended in late November, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Hathloul was also charged with speaking to foreign diplomats and with international media about women's rights in the kingdom, including Reuters, which declined to comment. "The case against Loujain, based solely on her human rights activism, is a travesty of justice and reveals the depths to which they will go to root out independent voices," said Adam Coogle of Human Rights Watch.

Source: bd News24 December 28, 2020 11:07 UTC