During the past few years, Saudi Arabia has made attempts to whitewash its image in front of the world. The file of "women's rights" has been prominent in these efforts, as official entities have raised slogans of women's empowerment, and almost every statement by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has touched upon the changes in his country's treatment of women.
However, despite the advertising and statements, the reality for women in Saudi Arabia has deteriorated in parallel with fierce campaigns against civil society, activists, and human rights defenders, aiming to prevent information from reaching the public.
Saudi Arabia promoted lifting the ban on women driving as one of the main signs of change in the government's approach to the women's rights file. The decision, which was supposed to take effect in June 2018, was preceded by an unprecedented campaign against women in the country. In May 2018, the Saudi government carried out a series of arbitrary arrests targeting prominent female figures in the field of women's rights and young women activists involved in advocacy and defense campaigns. Among their most prominent activities over the years and decades was advocating for women's rights, notably the right to drive.
Afterwards, the promises of reform and promotion of major changes followed, including the announcement of the closure of shelters that were considered prisons for women victims of violence, and the issuance of royal orders restoring some women's rights, such as the right to travel and obtain passports, and the establishment of employment units to enhance women's participation in the workforce. Saudi Arabia capped off the whitewashing with appointments of women in prominent roles in politics, diplomacy, and human rights. Saudi Arabia appointed Hala Altuwaijri as the head of the official Human Rights Commission, and several princesses assumed diplomatic positions, including Reema bint Bandar, who became Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States.
The reality versus the whitewashing:
Contrary to the claims propagated by Saudi Arabia, stories of unprecedented and severe violations have emerged, revealing the true situation of women. With Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's increasing control over governance institutions, signs of violations began to surface. In 2017, activist Naimah Almatrod was sentenced by the Specialized Criminal Court to imprisonment and a travel ban on charges related to freedom of expression. At the beginning of 2018, Saudi Arabia launched a campaign of arrests targeting women activists known for their human rights advocacy, including Loujain Al-Hathloul, Aziza Al-Yousef, Eman Al-Nafjan, Noha Al-Balawi, and Nouf Abdulaziz. In August 2018, the Public Prosecutor's Office sought the death penalty against human rights defender Israa Al-Ghomgham for her activism. The arrests of women did not stop but increased in the following years, with Manal Al-Attabi and Mariam Al-Oteibi among those whose cases were documented.
In addition to the arrests, there have been notable cases of lengthy and severe sentences imposed on activists and Twitter users. These include doctoral student Salma Al-Sharif, sentenced to 54 years, Nora Al-Qahtani, sentenced to 90 years, and Fatima Al-Shuwaibi, sentenced to 60 years on charges related to expression of opinion on social media.
Alongside the arrests, the issue of violence against women has become prominent during these years, including official and domestic violence. In March 2019, activists and human rights defenders confirmed during their trial session that they had been subjected to torture and mistreatment in prison, including electric shocks, whipping, and sexual harassment.
In August 2022, a number of girls at a social welfare home in the Khamis Mushait area were subjected to severe beating by security men and masked men. Video clips circulated on social media showed the use of tools including batons and sticks, in addition to beating and hair pulling against the girls in the home primarily responsible for caring for orphans. The videos also showed men threatening the girls who were documenting and filming the assault.
According to information shared by activists on social media, several girls had previously filed complaints against the home's director. Additionally, several girls had demanded their rights and expressed their refusal of rampant administrative corruption. When their demands were not met, they announced a strike, prompting the home's management to resort to violence with the sponsorship and participation of security men. Twitter users also confirmed that the girls had been subjected to continuous violations in the past, including verbal abuse and psychological harm.
There has not been effective investigation into these allegations. Instead, information indicates that girls have been subjected to forced disappearance and arrest for speaking out about these violations, including Aisha Al-Najibabi, who openly criticized the nursing homes.
In addition to arrest, mistreatment, and arbitrary judgments, women activists and human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia face qualitative violations, including travel bans imposed on them after serving their sentences, further constraining their activities.
These facts reveal that the reality of women in recent years has deteriorated, disconnected from official statements and promises. These incidents represent only a small part of the complete and real picture of violations. Alongside the suppression of civil society and the prevention of any activity by defenders, the intimidation experienced by families contributes to preventing the dissemination of victims' stories.
Untold Stories:
Saudi Arabia has enforced a veil of silence over society, preventing victims' stories from reaching the public, aiming to limit avenues for their defense on one hand and support whitewashing attempts by obscuring the truth on the other. ESOHR has received horrific stories from inside and outside prisons, yet fears for the safety, freedom, and lives of the victims or their families prevent the publication of details. The organization recounts some of these stories, using aliases and based on available information, to reveal that the reality is even more difficult and grim than the world knows:
Maha:
In 2022, before her arrest, Maha received numerous suspicious calls from several numbers and different voices, until her house was raided by men and women in civilian clothes, armed with weapons and cameras. The children were terrified while they were asleep, and the raiding force searched Maha's room, rummaging through her belongings and filming everything they laid their eyes on before confiscating electronic devices.
Without knowing the charges against her, Maha was taken in a private car to an unknown location outside her city located in the northern part of the country. Her father followed them in his car until they reached Jeddah, where they asked him to leave, and then they placed her in Dahban prison.
At that time, the prison administration told the family that her case was in the hands of state security and that she would remain in prison for a long time, but they refused to inform the family of the reasons for the arrest.
Maha was subjected to enforced disappearance for three months. Afterward, her family managed to visit her, where she appeared tired and had lost weight, unable to speak about what she had been through.
Later, Maha learned that one of her friends had been arrested and mentioned her name and activities on social media due to the severe torture she endured in prison.
Maha spent nearly a year in prison and was released, but with an ankle monitor. According to information, Maha was given a personal phone and forced to answer calls that came to her.
Despite her release, violations continue to haunt Maha, and she remains filled with terror, fear, and sadness.
Fatima:
Fatima used to live in the northern part of the country. She was a friend of Maha, who was arrested about a month before her. Fatima was tortured and beaten until she revealed Maha's name, along with others, all of whom were friends who frequently met and were active on the Twitter platform. She was forcibly disappeared and arrested, subjected to severe torture and mistreatment.
Aisha:
Aisha left Saudi Arabia amid escalating human rights violations. She sought asylum in Norway, but after official assurances from the embassy that she would not be harmed, she returned to Saudi Arabia. In October 2017, she was arrested immediately upon her arrival in Riyadh and subjected to enforced disappearance.
Ilaria (Italian flight attendant):
Ilaria used to live in Saudi Arabia due to her job. Security forces in civilian clothing raided the house where she lived and arrested her without a warning warrant. She was forcibly hidden for a month, during which her family did not know her whereabouts, and she was subjected to mistreatment during her detention. The cells were overcrowded, forcing the inmates to sleep on the floor without beds. Additionally, she was unable to obtain clothes or basic necessities during her detention, amid a shortage of water and necessary medical care. This situation continued until her embassy was able to locate her and provide her with the necessary supplies. Later, she was brought before a court without a lawyer and sentenced to six months in prison on charges related to drug possession after an unfair trial. Ilaria confirmed that there are dozens of imprisoned women, including minors, on charges related to drugs, and that the prison conditions are extremely poor.
The Saudi government's attempts to whitewash its bloody image were not limited to repeating its misleading and unrealistic speeches before international bodies and in the media platforms. It has now resorted to using female figures to express its official orientations and to obscure reality.
ESOHR views these attempts as failing to dim the truth, as stories of detained and abused women, along with cases of women facing an unprecedented campaign of repression, continue to emerge worldwide. The organization believes that the reality facing women confirms that the recent years have been among the harshest, with activists and women's rights advocates being treated as criminals. The systems and laws promoted by the government have failed to curb violence, and the scope of targeting women has expanded to include anyone who does not express official opinions and orientations.
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights confirms that Saudi Arabia's use of the women's rights issue has been matched by the stories of women and victims on the ground, despite the obfuscation, intimidation, and restrictions.