ALQST Organization for Supporting Human Rights-Political Prisoners

Personal information

Sex: Female
Date of birth: 1 March 1964
Area of activity: Human rights activist

Basma bint Saud al-Saud is a daughter of the former King Saud. She is a business woman and a public figure who advocated for different reforms in Saudi Arabia.

Arrest and jail information

Prison: Al-Ha’ir Prison, Riyadh
Date of arrest: 1 March 2019
Manner of arrest: Basma bint Saud al-Saud was taken from her home in Jeddah to Riyadh on 1 March 2019, having been informed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wished to meet with her. However she was taken to Riyadh, and straight to Al-Ha’ir Prison, together with her daughter Suhoud, without meeting the crown prince. After her arrest Basma was subjected to enforced disappearance for more than a month, and was unable to contact her family until April 2019. During this time she was denied the healthcare she needed for a potentially life-threatening condition that she suffers from. The authorities rejected every attempt by her family by whatever means to secure her release or ensure she received treatment.

Violations

Arbitrary arrest/ detention ,
Enforced disappearance ,
Denied contact with family ,
Denied access to healthcare

Timeline

6 January 2022 - Basma al-Saud and her daughter Suhoud were released.
6 ِApril 2020 - A group of UN Special Rapporteurs and the Human Rights Council’s Working Group on Enforced Disappearances wrote to the Saudi authorities concerning the issue of Basma’s detention and the way she had been treated.
1 March 2019 - Basma bint Saud was taken from her home in Jeddah to Riyadh on 1 March 2019, having been informed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wished to meet with her. However she was taken to Riyadh, and straight to Al-Ha’ir Prison, together with her daughter Suhoud, without meeting the crown prince.