Posted on August 2020

Women’s rights campaigner missing for two months in Saudi jail; family beg UK Government to stand up for Loujain and demand her release

Loujain Al-Hathloul, the Nobel prize nominated women’s rights campaigner, imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since May 2018 has not been heard from in 50 days, raising fears about her condition and safety.

Loujain has been held without trial, tortured and threatened with sexual abuse since her kidnap and rendition from UAE in 2018. Under Saudi law Loujain has a right to contact with her family.

As we reach the 50th day of Loujain’s enforced silence, her family are calling on Western politicians to press the Saudi regime for her release – in line her universal human rights and set out in the UN declaration.

Lina Al-Hathloul, Loujain’s sister, said,

“Loujain has been held, tortured and threatened with sexual violence by the Saudi regime since her illegal arrest in 2018. Now she has gone missing – we don’t know where she is, if she is healthy or how she is being treated. We haven’t heard a word from her in 50 days and we are desperate to know that she is ok.

“We are begging the British government to stand up for human rights and demand her release. At the very least we need their help to force the Saudis to give Loujain the chance to let us know where she is being held, and the state of her mental and physical health.”

Lucy Rae, Grant Liberty spokesperson said,

“Loujain’s only crime is to campaign for the rights that women in the west take for granted. Her continued imprisonment is a stain on the conscience of the world – and she is not alone. At Grant Liberty we campaign for more than 150 human rights activists who have been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. Many have been tortured, sexually abused, and prevented from communicating with their families.

“It’s time for governments around the world – including the UK – to take the human rights seriously, and insist that Saudi Arabia ends its barbaric treatment of these prisoners, and they should start by insisting on Loujain’s release.”

Detail

•  Loujain last contacted her family on 9 June
• Article (12) of the Prison and Detention Law and the executive regulations issued by Ministerial Resolution No. (3919) of 9/22/1398 permits prisoners to have visits and correspondence with family members. https://www.my.gov.sa/wps/portal/snp/servicesDirectory/servicedetails/6414
• Prisoners in Saudi jails generally have a right to be visited twice a week. In the ladies prison they can have four visits: two from female relatives and friends and two from your male relatives and friends. Prisoners are generally allowed to make international phone calls once a fortnight.
• https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/866121/Saudi_Arabia_Prisoner_Pack_2020.pdf
• Loujain al-Hathloul is a prominent human rights activist known for her campaigns for women’s rights in the Kingdom. She became the target of the Saudi authorities after she publicly defied the driving ban on women.
• On October 23, 2013, Loujain recorded a video of herself while driving her car from Riyadh Airport to her home
• Loujain Al-Hathloul was kidnapped from UAE by Saudi Authorities in March 2018 and detained again on 15 May 2018.
• Loujain has been subjected to sexual harassment and physical torture at the hands of the Saudi security officials.
• Loujain was married to the Saudi stand-up comedian Fahad Albutairi from 2014 to 2018. He was allegedly forced by the Saudi authorities to divorce her after her final arrest.
• Loujain is awaiting trial on charges of communicating with foreign entities hostile to Saudi Arabia; recruiting government employees to gather confidential information; providing financial support to entities abroad hostile to Saudi Arabia
• For more information see her profile at here
• There are more than 150 prisoners of conscience held in Saudi prisons, many have faced torture, sexual abuse, and some have died. You can read about their individual cases here

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