Saudi Arabia is under global scrutiny after arresting and detaining
seven people over associating with women’s rights activists.
The detainees, six men and one woman, are writers and
bloggers championing for change in the Middle East country. Their actions ‘earned’
then a travel ban since February this year. Last week, three female activists
were released from prison. They were among the 10 women rights campaigners
tried in March 2019 after a crackdown that started in 2018.
Saudi Arabia’s decision has attracted worldwide criticism
with over 30 states at the UN Human Rights Council demanding the release of the
activists.
Among those arrested there are Khadijah al-Harbi who is a
writer, and US-Saudi citizens Salar al-Haidar and Badr al-Ibrahim (writer and
doctor).
The World Economic Forum ranked Saudi Arabia number 141 out
of 149 countries around the world for gender equality in 2018. Women in Arabia
need consent to leave the house. Besides, they cannot get married, travel, or
open a bank account without the permission of a male guardian.
Earlier this year, the case of a Saudi woman fleeing her
family abroad gained a lot of attention. Rahaf al-Qunun, 18, barricaded herself
in a Bangkok hotel room after immigration officials tried to return her. She received
UN help and has since been granted asylum in Canada.
