Home GCC Saudi Arabia Saudi says not seeking death penalty against female activist Israa al-Ghomgham Israa al-Ghomgham was arrested along with her husband Mousa al-Hashim in December 2015 by Staff writer February 3, 2019 Saudi Arabia is not seeking the death penalty against female activist Israa al-Ghomgham, an official has confirmed. Rights groups had previously stated that al-Ghomgham, who was arrested in 2015, could be sentenced to death. “From the beginning, the Saudi prosecutor has not sought the death sentence for Israa al-Ghomgham,” a representative at the Saudi Arabian embassy in London told CBS News. “Rather, he has demanded a sentence of imprisonment, fines, and the confiscation of anything found to have been used in preparing the alleged crime.” According to Amnesty International, Israa al-Ghomgham was arrested along with her husband Mousa al-Hashim in December 2015 for participating in protests for Shi’ite reforms in the eastern Qatif province following the Arab Spring. She is allegedly facing trial before Saudi Arabia’s specialised criminal court which deals with counter-terrorism cases, along with five other individuals Ahmed al-Matrood, Ali Ouwaisher, Mousa al-Hashim, Khalid al-Ghanim and Mujtaba al-Muzain. They are facing a series of charges including “participating in protests” which is punishable under law. As per court documents obtained by Amnesty International, al-Ghomgham has been charged with: * Participating in protests in al-Qatif and documenting these protests on social media * Providing moral support to rioters by participating in funerals of protesters killed during clashes with security forces * Committing forgery by using the passport photo of another woman on her Facebook account * Violating the anti-cyber crime law by advocating for protests and posting photos and videos of protests on Facebook 0 Comments