Concerns raised over whereabouts of Saudi doctor 'disappeared for social media activism'
Concerns raised over whereabouts of Saudi doctor 'disappeared for social media activism'
Rights group ALQST says Lina Alsharif was likely arrested over her social media activism.
1 min read
Lina Alsharif was arrested in May and is still "missing" according to ALQST [Getty Images]
A Saudi doctor who was arrested several weeks ago is still missing with no information being provided on her whereabouts, according to a Saudi human rights group.
Lina Alsharif, a 33-year-old physician, was detained by Saudi authorities in May, and her family was denied any contact with her for weeks, according to a statement released by London-based rights group ALQST.
It said that Alsharif was "held in conditions of enforced disappearance," adding that no further information on her is currently available.
ورد للقسط معلومات موثوقة حول اعتقال طبيبة سعودية #لينا_الشريف قبل عدة أسابيع وأنها قد لا تزال مخفية قسريًّا.
— القسط لحقوق الإنسان (@ALQST_ORG) July 13, 2021
ويبدو اعتقال الشريف متعلقًا بنشاطها السلمي على شبكات التواصل الاجتماعي.
تدعو #القسط السلطات #السعودية للكشف عن مصيرها فورًا.#الحرية_لليناhttps://t.co/HnNqyZCzD9 pic.twitter.com/hdaEpIJm7i
The organisation believes that the reason behind her arrest is due to her social media activism.
"Alsharif’s apparent enforced disappearance is of grave concern, particularly given the Saudi authorities’ systematic and widespread use of the practice to silence critical voices," said Josh Cooper, deputy director of ALQST.
The advocacy group called on Saudi authorities to immediately release Alsharif as well as other prisoners "arbitrarily arrested for expressing their opinion".
More In News
