Saudi Authorities Schedule New Trial for Women’s Rights Activists Salma Al-Shehab and Noura Al-Qahtani Without Legal Representation

Together for Justice calls for immediate intervention as Saudi Arabia intensifies its crackdown on free expression.
In a troubling new development, reports have confirmed that a new trial session for Saudi prisoners of conscience, Salma Al-Shehab and Noura Al-Qahtani, has been scheduled for Wednesday at 8 a.m.. Details of the new charges or case remain unclear, and both women are being denied their fundamental right to legal representation. This ongoing violation of their rights is yet another example of the systemic repression of free speech in Saudi Arabia.
Lack of Legal Representation and Ongoing Repression
Salma Al-Shehab and Noura Al-Qahtani have already been sentenced to long prison terms for expressing their opinions peacefully on social media—Salma is serving a 27-year sentence, while Noura faces 45 years. Both women have endured secret trials without legal defense, making this new court hearing even more concerning. The denial of legal representation violates international legal standards and further demonstrates the Saudi government’s disregard for basic human rights.
The timing of Salma and Noura’s convictions, just weeks after U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia, underscores the Saudi government’s sense of impunity. Biden, who had promised to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its human rights violations, appeared to reverse his stance following the trip, prioritizing economic interests over the rights of Saudi citizens.
International Calls for Release Ignored
In July 2023, the United Nations issued a report calling for the immediate release of Salma and Noura, highlighting their unjust imprisonment, poor treatment, and denial of rights. However, Saudi authorities have consistently rejected these calls and have denied all allegations of human rights abuses, falsely claiming that their judicial processes are fair.
The upcoming trial could result in additional unjust charges or harsher treatment, adding to the years of suffering these women have already endured. With the Saudi government’s history of targeting women’s rights advocates, intellectuals, and reformists, the international community must act now to prevent further abuses.
Call for International Action
Together for Justice strongly condemns the continued persecution of Salma Al-Shehab and Noura Al-Qahtani. We urge the international community, human rights organizations, and governments to intervene and demand their immediate release. The denial of legal representation and the secretive nature of their trials violate their fundamental human rights and international legal standards.
Salma and Noura’s cases are emblematic of the broader repression in Saudi Arabia, where expressing an opinion can lead to decades in prison. We call on the international community to pressure Saudi authorities to release these women and all prisoners of conscience.
The international community must halt all forms of cooperation with the Saudi regime until it demonstrates a genuine commitment to improving human rights, ensuring the fair treatment of detainees, and respecting free speech. The cases of Salma Al-Shehab and Noura Al-Qahtani are just the beginning—many more prisoners of conscience remain detained in Saudi Arabia’s prisons, their stories hidden due to the regime’s tight control over information.
Together for Justice calls for immediate and unconditional intervention to ensure the protection of human rights in Saudi Arabia.
The fight for justice, dignity, and freedom for all continues.