A screengrab from Saudi state television of doctoral student Salma al-Shehab speaking to a journalist in 2014. Photograph: Saudi state television via APBritish foreign secretary, Liz Truss, has been urged to intervene in the “outrageous” case of a Leeds University student jailed in Saudi Arabia for 34 years over her use of Twitter.
But an appeals court last week handed down a new sentence – 34 years in prison followed by a 34-year travel ban – after a public prosecutor asked the court to consider other alleged crimes. She has described suffering abuse and harassment behind bars, telling a Saudi court she was subjected to interrogations after being given medications that exhausted her. Amnesty International has called for her “immediate and unconditional release”.
“I think we have a duty as citizens and countries to speak out wherever human rights are abused and denied in this way. The fact that she was a student in one of our universities adds to that obligation.” He called the case “shocking and outrageous”. Saudi Arabia has sought to improve its global reputation in recent years through tourism campaigns and the hosting of major sporting events, including golfing championships and boxing matches.
Critics say the events are part of efforts by Saudi Arabia to “launder its reputation” and distract from its poor record on human rights, a strategy termed “sportswashing”.
If she is a Saudi national but just studying in the UK and not a UK citizen,what the hell.has it got to do with the British what happens, ok outside SA this crap doesn't happen and we think it's wrong, but different rules for different countries! I bet every country has them!
Liz Truss is too busy lying to gammons.