Human rights groups condemn arrests of Saudi feminists as tainting Mohammed bin Salman's reputation as a reformer

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Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...salman-driving-ban-guardianship-a8362386.html


Human rights groups condemn arrests of Saudi feminists as tainting Mohammed bin Salman's reputation as a reformer
Bethan McKernan Beirut
Monday 21 May 2018 21:07 BST

The arrests of at least seven high-profile women?s rights campaigners in Saudi Arabia have been condemned by human rights groups as a sign that tentative social reforms in the kingdom are not as wide-ranging as promised.

Eman al-Nafjan, Loujain al-Hathloul, Aziz al-Yousef, Aisha al-Manea, Madiha Al-Ajroush, Walaa Al-Shubbar and Hasah Al-Sheikh were all taken from their homes on Friday evening, according to reports which emerged over the weekend.

All the women are ​vocal activists against the conservative country?s guardianship system, where male relatives or husbands have control over almost all aspects of women's lives.

Along with male activists Ibrahim Modeimigh and Mohammed al-Rabe they were arrested for alleged involvement in activities that ?encroach on religious and national constants?, a government statement said...

 

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Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...sts-of-activists-missing-prince-idUSKCN1IU119


U.N. voices concern on Saudi arrests of activists, missing prince
Reuters Staff
1 Min Read

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations human rights office called on Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to provide information about women?s rights activists and other activists being held in custody and to ensure their right to due process.

?These include the right to legal representation, the right to know the reason for their arrests, the nature of the charges against them, the right to have access to their families and the right to be brought before a competent, independent and impartial tribunal within a reasonable period of time,? U.N. human rights spokeswoman Liz Throssell told a Geneva briefing...