Saudi Princess released from jail after 3 years

After remaining in detention without charges for nearly three years, Princess Basma bint Saud, an outspoken human rights advocate and youngest daughter of King Abdul Aziz Al Saud who ruled Saudi Arabia between 1953 and 1964, and her daughter have been released.

Proponent of women’s rights and a constitutional monarchy, 57-year old Basmah and her adult daughter Southoud Al Shari had been in the high security al-Ha’ir jail about 25 Km from Riyadh since March 2019.

“Basma hint Saud Al Saud and her daughter Suhoud…have been release,” the ALQST for Human Rights said.

“The two ladies were released from their arbitrary imprisonment, and arrived at their home in Jeddah on Thursday 6 January 2022,” her legal advisor Henri Estramant said.

“The princess is doing fine but will be seeking medical expertise. She seems worn out but is in good spirits, and thnkful to reun ite with her sons in persons,” he said.

There has been no official word from the Saudi authorities so far. In fact the Saudi government has never commented publicly about the case.

She was arrested shortly before her planned travel to Switzerland for medial treatment. A close relative had said at that time that she was informed after her detention that she was accused of trying to forge a passport. The nature of her illness was never disclosed.

The ALQST also said after her release that “she was denied the medical care she needed for a potentially life-threatening condition. At no point during here detention has any charge been leveled against her.”

Some believe that her arrest was due to her advocacy on humanitarian issues and constitutional reforms.

In an interview to BBC in 2012 Basma had talked about a constitution that threats men and women on an equal footing before law, changes in the divorce law that she think is currently “abusive”, overhauling of education system and complete reform of social system.

According to AFP, her family told the United Nations in a written statement in 2020 that her detention was likely due in large art to her “record as an outspoken critic of abuses.”

She was also deemed an ally to Mohammed bin Nayef, who was replaced by Prince Mohammed bin Salman as heir to the thrown by King Salman in June 2017.

Prince Mohammed who has been virtually functioning as the de facto ruler of the oil-rich Kingdom and has carried out a number of reforms including lifting decades-long ban on women driving and the easing of so-called “guardianship” rules that give men arbitrary authority over female relatives.

There has also been crack down on dissidents and even potential opponents, ranging from preachers to women’s rights activists and even royals. – INDIA NEWS STREAM