Martin Chulov: Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul released from prison // Bill Law: Can America’s Favorite Police State ever Change?
NB: The fact that this activist has been forbidden to talk about her experience in jail, where she was molested and beaten shows that the Saudi Arabia is one of the most viciously misogynistic regimes in the world. We should never forget the brutal murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi. DS
The prominent Saudi dissident and women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has been released from prison after 1,001 days in custody. Following a concerted campaign by her relatives and global rights groups, Hathloul was granted probation by a judge in Riyadh and released to her family on Wednesday afternoon. Her sister Lina published a photo of a smiling Loujain on Twitter early evening Riyadh time – the first image of the most celebrated political prisoner in the Kingdom since she was detained almost three years ago. “Loujain is at home !!!!!!”, the accompanying message said.
Saudi Arabia: Can America’s Favorite Police State ever Change?
It is understood that the terms of Hathloul’s probation prevent her from discussing her ordeal in prison. She is banned from leaving Saudi Arabia, and has a suspended sentence looming if she breaks the terms of her release. “Loujain’s years-long imprisonment has ended, but she is not free,” said Adam Coogle, the deputy director for the Middle East at Human Rights Watch. “Banned from travel and coerced into silence by a suspended sentence hanging over her, Loujain’s ordeal remains a flagrant miscarriage of justice.”
Hathloul launched hunger strikes to protest against her
imprisonment and joined other female activists in telling Saudi judges that she
was tortured and sexually assaulted by masked men during interrogations. The
women say they were caned, electrocuted and waterboarded. Some say they were
forcibly groped and threatened with rape. Hathloul’s parents said they noticed
bruising when they visited her in prison….
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