Thread by @monaeltahawy

This is outrageous: a #Saudi anti-terrorism court has sentenced women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul to nearly 6yrs in prison. The Saudi regime considers feminism a form of terrorism! google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.… #FreeLoujain

Loujain, who has been detained since May 2018, was “found guilty...on charges including agitating for change, pursuing a foreign agenda and using the internet to harm public order.”

So vicious is the #Saudi regime’s misogyny, it equates advocating for women’s rights to terrorism

Loujain long campaigned for women to be able to drive and for an end to the kingdom's notorious guardianship system, which requires women to get permission from male relatives for many decisions. google.com/amp/s/amp.fran…

In 2019, #Saudi authorities offered to release Loujain in exchange for her video testimony denying that she had been tortured &sexually assaulted in prison, her family said.

She refused to accept the "deal.”

Her torture has included waterboarding, electric shocks, rape threats.

A rights group called Prisoners of Conscience, which focuses on Saudi political detainees, said that Alhathloul could be released as early as the end of March 2021 based on time served.

I will believe that when Loujain is released. I do not trust the Saudi “justice” system.

Loujain has been imprisoned since May 2018 and 34 months of her sentencing will be suspended.

Also: note that her sentencing happened during holidays in the West because the Saudi regime knows its allies aren’t paying attention google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.…

I keep seeing this and I disagree strongly, because:
- as if #Saudi regime can be trusted to release someone when they say they will
- as if US presidents have ever given a flying fuck about women’s rights/anyone’s rights in Saudi Arabia. What was Obama/Biden position pre-Trump?

REMEMBER: Trump is NOT the first US president who has been happy to do business with a murderous and misogynist #Saudi regime. He is just the latest.

Before Trump and after Trump, the US helps prop up the Saudi regime.

This notion that a Biden administration is going to end tyranny is laughable and dangerous

When Biden was VP to Obama:
- Obama administration provided assistance to a Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen; coalition was accused of carrying out indiscriminate airstrikes on civilians
- What did Obama/Biden do re rights? hrw.org/news/2014/03/3…

Biden: “America’s commitment to democratic values & human rights will be a priority,even w/our closest security partners...I will defend the right of activists, political dissidents & journalists around the world to speak their minds freely without fear of persecution & violence”

I will believe that ☝🏽when I see it. During the January 25, 2011 revolution, Biden refused to call Mubarak - the dictator of Egypt for 30yrs - a dictator google.com/amp/s/www.poli…

Trump said and did extra loud what previous US presidents said and did.

He was fruition, not aberration.

Biden will continue US business as usual.