Activist Rejects Saudi Envoy’s Invitation for Talks inside Embassy to avoid the experience of Khashoggi

The Arabic-language Arabi 21 news website reported on Saturday that Sharif released a video to welcome Reema Bint Bandar’s invitation, describing it as a good turning point.

The human rights activists said that she will speak about different issues with Bandar, including unconditional freedom of female Saudi activists.

But Sharif underlined that the talks should necessarily be held outside the Saudi embassy’s building, fearing that she might end up a fate already experienced by Khashoggi.

Manal al-Sharif is a Saudi Arabian women’s rights activist who helped start a women’s right to drive campaign in 2011, a women’s rights activist who had previously filmed herself driving. The video was posted on YouTube and Facebook.

Al-Sharif was detained and released on 21 May 2011 and rearrested the following day. On 30 May, al-Sharif was released on bail, on the conditions of returning for questioning if requested, not driving and not talking to the media. She then fled to the US.