Saudi Prison Guards Reveal Torture And Sexual Abuse Of Female Political Prisoners
Saudi prison guards have claimed that high-ranking officials tortured and sexually assaulted female political prisoners after Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who reportedly sanctioned the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, became leader.
Anonymous Saudi Arabian prison guards have provided information to an international human rights NGO about the alleged torture and sexual harassment of female political prisoners.
Human Rights Watch (HRW), headquartered in New York City, cited text messages they said they received from Saudi prison guards.
In a HRW report, the guards said they witnessed Saudi officials torturing, beating, sexually harassing, and even using electric shocks on female political prisoners in 2018.
The guards alleged that Saudi interrogators used cruel methods against high-profile inmates just after Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, 35, became leader.
The guards, who did not reveal their names for fear of retribution, said Saudi officials regularly took part in beatings and used electric shocks.
They said well-known female activists were frequently tortured over many hours.
One guard claimed colleagues were terrified when a female inmate lost consciousness and they presumed she would die.
In another text, a guard said officials “mocked an activist” for being ‘liberated’, meaning “she would not mind being sexually molested”.
Alia Al-Hathloul, the Brussels-based sister of former prisoner Loujain Al-Hathloul, told local media that her sibling was sexually harassed and tortured in prison.
She also claimed that Saud Al-Qahtani, Mohammad Bin Salman’s former aid, took part in the torture.
As a result of her allegations, international human rights groups called on the government to investigate the matter and release her along with other female activists.
The court rejected the calls and referred to previous reports by public prosecutors that said “no evidence of such violations was found in Saudi prisons”.
Loujain Al-Hathloul was released from jail last February, however, many female political activists remain behind bars and human rights groups are repeatedly calling for their release.
