Saudi Arabia: Outrageous Ongoing Detention of Women's Rights Defenders Reaches 100 Days

The ongoing arbitrary detention of several women's rights defenders in Saudi Arabia is outrageous, Amnesty International said today, as three prominent activists reach 100 days of being held without charge.

Since May, at least 12 leading human rights activists in Saudi Arabia have been detained without charge. Loujain al-Hathloul, Iman al-Nafjan and Aziza al-Yousef were all imprisoned on 15 May and today (23 August) marks 100 days since their detention.

"It is absolutely outrageous that so many brave human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia are still being held without charge - apparently for simply speaking out against injustice," said Samah Hadid, Amnesty International's Middle East Director of Campaigns.

"They have been detained without charge and with no legal representation for more than three months. This must not go on any longer. The world cannot carry on looking the other way as this relentless persecution of those who stand up for human rights in Saudi Arabia continues."

To mark the 100 day anniversary, Amnesty International is today mobilising its supporters worldwide to stand with the detained human rights defenders. As part of the campaign, Amnesty International supporters are gathering in multiple cities around the world to protest outside of Saudi Arabian embassies. They will be putting pressure on the Saudi Arabian authorities, as well as their own governments, to take action to secure the release of the women human rights defenders and all prisoners of conscience who have been detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights in Saudi Arabia.

Loujain al-Hathloul, Iman al-Nafjan and Aziza al-Yousef have faced accusations in state-aligned media which include forming a "cell" and posing a threat to state security for their "contact with foreign entities with the aim of undermining the country's stability and social fabric". Amnesty International understands that the three women may be charged and tried by the country's notorious counter-terror court, which has been used in other instances to try human rights defenders and deliver harsh prison sentences.

Earlier this month, two more prominent women human rights activists - Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sada - were also detained. Others detained recently include women's rights activists Nouf Abdulaziz and Maya'a al-Zahrani, and activists who have previously been persecuted for their human rights work, such as Mohammed al-Bajadi and Khalid al-Omeir. Hatoon al-Fassi, a prominent women's rights activist and academic was also reportedly detained a few days after Saudi Arabia lifted the driving ban in June.

So far, a total of 12 human rights defenders have been detained: eight women and four men. The crackdown began shortly before Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on women driving in the country. Many of the activists detained campaigned for the right to drive and the end of the repressive male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia for many years.

"The international community must push the Saudi Arabian authorities to end this targeted repression of activists in the country. States with significant influence in Saudi Arabia - such as the USA, UK and France - should do much more to campaign for their release," said Samah Hadid.

"Saudi Arabia must release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally, and end the draconian crackdown on freedom of expression in the country."

Background

The crackdown on activists and women human rights defenders comes despite Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman presenting himself as a 'reformer' in recent months. His international public relations campaign contrasts sharply with an intensifying crackdown on dissenting voices, including those campaigning for equal rights for women.

Amnesty International is also calling for an end to all forms of discrimination against women, including the guardianship system.

Earlier this month, the Canadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia was expelled after a tweet from Canadian Foreign Policy account said: "Very alarmed to learn that Samar Badawi, Raif Badawi's sister, has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. Canada stands together with the Badawi family in this difficult time, and we continue to strongly call for the release of both Raif and Samar Badawi". Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry accused Canada of "overt and blatant interference in the internal affairs" of the country. Amnesty International is calling on other governments to join Canada in increasing pressure on Saudi Arabia to end the crackdown on freedom of expression in the country.

This statement can be found online at https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/saudi-arabia-outrageous-ongoing-detention-of-womens-rights-defenders-reaches-100-days/