Nourah al-Qahtani

Additional Name(s): نورة القحطاني

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia

Ethnic Group: Arab

Religion or Belief: Unspecified

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Reduced to 35 Years' Imprisonment, 35-Year Travel Ban

Sentence: Originally 13 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July/4/2021

Date of Sentencing: August/9/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Online Activity Possession of Religious Materials

Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Subversion Terrorism

Nourah al-Qahtani

Extra Bio Info:

Nourah al-Qahtani is imprisoned for her religious activity.

In July 2021, officers of the Presidency of State Security arrested al-Qahtani for advocating for human rights on social media, purportedly violating religiously based anti-cybercrime laws, and for possessing a banned book written by imprisoned Islamic scholar and sheikh Salman al-Ouda.

In August 2022, the Specialized Criminal Court of Appeal sentenced al-Qahtani to 45 years' imprisonment followed by a 45-year travel ban for “producing or transmitting material impinging on religious values or public morals" (Art. 6, Anti-Cybercrime Law), "possessing a banned book," "seeking to disturb the social fabric, national unity, and social cohesion," "insulting the symbols of the state and its officials," and "demanding the release of detainees," among others. In September 2024, the Specialized Criminal Court reduced al-Qahtani's sentence to 35 years in prison along with a 35-year travel ban. 

Saudi authorities subjected al-Qahtani to solitary confinement for at least three months in 2025, while poor prison conditions have hastened the deterioration of her health.

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