3 March 2021 Update

On 2 March 2021 in the Specialised Criminal Court Loujain AlHathloul appeared for the start of her appeal hearing for the sentencing to 5 years and 8 months in prison. The session was adjourned until next Wednesday 10 March 2021. 

During the hearing:

• The public prosecution objected to the 5 years and 8 months sentence, demanded a cancellation of the suspended portion of the sentence, and asked for an increase of the sentence. 

• The judge asked Loujain if she regretted what she had done and wanted to submit an apology before the judges. 

• Loujain replied that she had proven in all her defenses that she had not committed any crime based on local and international laws. So, on what basis would she present her repentance?

Additionally:

• The judge asked about Loujain’s communication with foreign parties to which Loujain explained that all her communication with foreign parties was legitimately based on the Saudi Kingdom’s international laws that the Kingdom has ratified. Loujain also noted that the articles of the terrorist law on which the court of the SCC relied on to convict Loujain labeled all foreign entities involved in her case as terrorist entities knowing that these entities are only defined by the Ministry of the Interior and approved by the King. These foreign entities include: the United Nations, the British embassy, ​​the European Union, international human rights organizations, journalists.

• Loujain additionally insisted again on the presence of physical witness that she had requested in her previous defense to confirm her description of what Loujain was doing rather than relying on what the prosecution had noted in her charges. The witnesses Loujain requested include The staff of the British & Dutch embassy, ​​the European Union, the United Nations, human rights organizations, and journalists. However, the court did not appear to respond to this request.

• Loujain reminded the appeals judges that judges in the Specialized Court did not decide on the requests that were attached to her defense, violating the law in that instance and that the appeals judges should decide all her requests.

10 March 2021 Update

The judge denied the appeal and confirmed the sentence to 5 years and 8 months in prison which includes 3 years of probation and 5 years of a travel ban during which Loujain cannot leave Saudi Arabia at any time. Loujain’s charges had listed her communication with foreign parties which include the United Nations, British Embassy, European Union, The Netherlands, international human rights organizations and journalists. In the first appeal hearing on 2 March 2021, Loujain noted that the articles of the terrorist law on which the court of the SCC relied on to convict Loujain labeled all foreign entities involved in her case as terrorist entities knowing that these entities are only defined by the Ministry of the Interior and approved by the King. The confirmation of Loujain’s sentence means that the Saudi authorities have also confirmed that the Saudi Authorities consider these foreign entities ‘terrorist entities’ and contacting them a terrorist act.

Loujain Supreme Court Appeal

Loujain filed her appeal for her sentencing to 5 years and 8 months in prison to the Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia on 22 March 2022.