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Rights groups condemn Saudi over trial of women activists
DUBAI, March 2, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Rights groups denounced Saudi Arabia
Saturday over its decision to put jailed women activists on trial after
holding them for nearly a year without charge.
The public prosecution said Friday that the activists had been referred to
court, as its investigation is complete.
Some of those detained have allegedly faced torture and sexual harassment
during interrogation, following their arrest in May last year in a sweeping
crackdown on campaigners.
“The Saudi authorities have done nothing to investigate serious
allegations of torture,” said Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at
Human Rights Watch.
“Now, it’s the women’s rights activists, not any torturers, who face
criminal charges and trials.”
More than a dozen activists were arrested just a month before the historic
lifting of a decades-long ban on women drivers.
Most were accused of undermining security and aiding enemies of the state.
Some were later released.
Amnesty International called Friday’s announcement a “shocking sign of the
kingdom’s escalating crackdown on activists” and demanded “the immediate
release of prisoners of conscience.”
Trials in the ultra-conservative kingdom are often shrouded in secrecy.
The prosecutor did not specify the charges nor give a date for their
trial.
But the announcement sparked speculation that the activists could be
released under the cover of a judicial process, after the crackdown prompted
scathing criticism against Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“There is a legal process moving forward and I think it will end well,”
Ali Shihabi, founder of pro-Saudi government think tank Arabia Foundation,
said on Twitter.
“Let us see the end result and then judge, not jump to conclusions.”
Those still detained include Aziza al-Yousef, a retired professor at
Riyadh’s King Saud University.
Another is Loujain al-Hathloul, who was held for more than 70 days in 2014
for attempting to drive from neighbouring United Arab Emirates to Saudi
Arabia.
Following their arrest, state-backed newspapers published front-page
pictures of some of the activists with the word “traitor” stamped across them
in red.
Loujain was one of the activists who faced sexual harassment and torture
during interrogation, her family and rights groups said.
The Saudi government has rejected the allegation.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1500 hrs