“Every day, the Saudi monarchy’s unrestrained despotism makes it harder for its public relations teams to spin the fairy tale of ‘reform’ to allies and international business.”

Human Rights Watch says that Ghomgham is among five activists for whom Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecution office is seeking the death penalty. HRW, citing Saudi activists, said al-Ghomgham is the first woman to “possibly face the death penalty for activism for her human-rights related work.” Many campaigners also fear it would set a "dangerous precedent" in the country. EX-BEAUTY QUEEN ACCUSED OF HIRING HIT MAN TO KILL WEALTHY HUSBAND GOES ON TRIAL

“Any execution is appalling, but seeking the death penalty for activists like Israa al-Ghomgham, who are not even accused of violent behavior, is monstrous,” Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa Division, said. They have, however, been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent, with dozens of clerics, intellectuals and activists arrested in the past year, including women who had campaigned for the right to drive in the deeply conservative Muslim country. Israa al-Ghomgham, 29, was arrested in 2015 for participating in anti-government protests and endorsing human rights on social media websites, Human Rights Watch said.
According to human rights campaigners, Saudi Arabian prosecutors seek the death penalty for six activists for inciting anti-government protests and morally supporting rioters.