Human Rights Watch on Saudi activist's sentencing

One of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent women’s rights activists was sentenced Monday to nearly six years in prison, according to state-linked media, under a vague counterterrorism law.

Loujain al-Hathloul has already been in pre-trial detention for more than two years, and has endured several stretches of solitary confinement.

The 31-year-old Saudi activist has long been defiantly outspoken about human rights in Saudi Arabia, even from behind bars.

Her case has drawn international criticism.

Rothna Begum, senior women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch, described the verdict as "absolutely shocking".

Human rights group “Prisoners of Conscience,” which focuses on Saudi political detainees, said al-Hathloul could be released in March 2021 based on time served.

She has been imprisoned since May 2018, and almost three years of her sentence will be suspended.

Her family said in a statement she will be barred from leaving the kingdom for five years and required to serve three years of probation after her release.

Al-Hathloul was found guilty and sentenced to five years and eight months by the kingdom’s anti-terrorism court on charges of agitating for change, pursuing a foreign agenda, using the internet to harm public order and cooperating with individuals and entities that have committed crimes under anti-terror laws.

The charges all come under the country’s broadly-worded counterterrorism law.

She has 30 days to appeal the verdict.