THE second hearing into the trial of Saudi human rights defender Loujain al-Hathloul took place in a special terrorism court in the autocratic kingdom today.  

She has been held in prison for over two years due to her human and women’s rights advocacy work, though the Saudi government accuses her of “undermining the kingdom’s security, stability and national unity.”

At the trial today Loujain al-Hathloul handed in her defence and was told, according to her sister Lina, “what the public prosecutor considers evidence of her alleged crimes.”

“They include tweets about the Women2Drive campaign, and audio of her explaining the male guardianship system,” Lina al-Hathloul added.

Saudi Arabia’s public prosecution service has accused Loujain al-Hathloul of communicating with “terrorist entities” without identifying any specific entities, except for mentioning the UN.

Recent amendments to the indictment against her dropped references to the British and Dutch governments as well as the European Union.

The public prosecution service is calling for the maximum penalty against her.

Saudi human rights organisation ALQST’s acting director Safa al-Ahmad said in a statement on Saturday: “After over two-and-a-half years of arbitrary detention, and months of the trial being delayed for unknown reasons, the authorities’ latest measure in bringing these charges against al-Hathloul is further proof that her trial is a total sham.

“Despite the charges once again relating simply to her peaceful activism, she is now being brought before a counter-terror court and being charged under the counter-terrorism law.

“It is vital that the international community call out this farce for what it is and increase the pressure for her immediate release.”