Dubai: Prosecutors in Saudi Arabia have referred detained women’s rights activists to trial, saying those charged “enjoy all rights preserved by the laws in the kingdom” after they were reportedly tortured in custody. Prosecutors issued the statement late Friday, referring to their earlier June statement that marked the activists’ arrest just before Saudi Arabia granted women the right to drive. Prosecutors alleged those arrested had the “aim to undermine the kingdom’s security, stability and national unity.”
Several people with knowledge of their arrest have told The Associated Press that some of the women detained have been subjected to caning, electrocution and sexual assault. All spoke requesting anonymity for fear of reprisal and to protect personal details about the detainees. The Saudi govt did not respond to questions about the women’s cases on early Saturday. However, the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, owned by a Saudi media group long associated with the Al Saud royal family, published a story Saturday quoting a deputy prosecutor denying those detained had been tortured.