Prisoners held for opposing the government in Saudi Arabia are being murdered, sexually assaulted and inflicted with “sheer” brutality, a new report has suggested.
The study, carried out by Grant Liberty, a human rights charity, identified 311 known prisoners of conscience in the era of Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud – the kingdom’s leader who is the current crown prince, deputy prime minister, and minister of defence.
Researchers, who shared the report exclusively with The Independent, claimed that 53 prisoners have been tortured, while six were sexually assaulted, and 14 were pushed into undergoing hunger strikes.
The report looked at the plight of 23 women’s rights activists, 11 of whom were still behind bars, as well as also identifying 54 journalists.
Some 22 of the prisoners were arrested for crimes that they carried out when they were still children – five of them were put to death. An additional 13 were facing the death penalty, while four had died in custody.
Lucy Rae, of human rights organisation Grant Liberty, told The Independent: “Sadly the abuse of the prisoners of conscience continues as the world watches on, women are subjected to sustained and brutal violations with no basic human rights.
“We call upon the kingdom to back up its statement of being a ‘modern and progressive country’ with actions and release innocent individuals who were disappeared, were arrested and subjected to sham trials.
“Imprisoning, torturing and abusing an elderly mother such Aida Al Ghamdi because her son has sought asylum surely is abhorrent and wrong in any nation?”
Abdullah al-Ghamdi, an activist who is the son of Ms Al-Ghamdi, said he escaped Saudi Arabia after being threatened for campaigning against authoritarian policies in the middle eastern country.
His mother, Aida, and two of his brothers were arrested after he left, he added.
“They were arrested not because they had committed a crime, but because of my activism,” Mr al-Ghamdi, whose situation is explored in the report, said.
He said he felt an “indescribable feeling of longing” over the fact his mother is in prison in Saudi Arabia.
Mr al-Ghamdi, who lives in the UK, added: “For over three years, my dear ageing 65-year-old mother and my younger brother have been held by the Saudi royal family. They have been held in solitary confinement and subjected to physical torture by cigarette burning, beating and lashing.
“It’s very hard to contact my family as this will put them in danger as the Saudi government told them not to contact me and give me any updates on my mother and brother’s case, so as of yet I am unsure of my mother’s charges.”
He said his mother was held for over a year in Dhahban Central Prison in Jeddha before being moved to Dammam Mabahith Prison. He wishes she was “safe, free and be able to rejoice with her loved ones”.
Mr al-Ghamdi added: “There is not a time where she is not on my mind and it pains me that all my hard work hasn’t led to a definite answer for her freedom.”
Mr al-Ghamdi, a political and human rights activist said he had been “fighting to bring justice and freedom to the Saudi nation” since 2004 and secure a “democracy where there is an independent justice system”.
Mr al-Ghamdi said his mother had been tortured in front of her son Adil, who was also beaten and tortured.
“Due to her old age she has diabetes, high blood pressure and she suffers from regular abdomen pains and due to the unjust treatment and torture within prison her mental health has worsened,” he said of his mother.
