A Saudi woman was recently jailed for 30 years for criticizing the Neom megacity on Twitter. ALQST, a UK-based human rights group, said a Saudi court sentenced Fatima al-Shawarbi to 30 years during a recent appeal hearing. Human Rights Watch in a 2020 report said that imprisoned female dissidents are often refused contact with family members and those in the outside world. The crown prince plans to construct the city across a 10,200 square mile area in the Tabuk Province in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Despite criticism from human rights groups, Saudi Arabia continues to attract wealthy Western companies to invest in Neom.

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Persons: Fatima al, Shawarbi, —, ALQST, Lina Alhathloul, Salma al, Alhathoul, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Abdul Rahim al, who've Organizations: Twitter, Saudi, Service, Privacy Policy, Rights Watch, Leeds University, UN, Amnesty Locations: Saudi, Privacy Policy Saudi Arabia, Al, Ahsa, London, Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia, Neom