Jailed Saudi Princess Basmah Bint pleads for release as health worsens
- The rights activist appealed to the kingdom’s king and crown prince to release her from prison as the holy month of Ramadan began
- Basmah, who has been critical of Riyadh’s treatment of women, is held at Ha’ir prison
Princess Basmah Bint Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, 56, a businesswoman, writer and rights activist, went missing in March 2019. Only recently did she publicly communicate that she has been held at Ha’ir prison in the capital Riyadh for over a year and is sick.
The youngest child of the late King Saud, Princess Basmah has been particularly critical of the kingdom’s treatment of women.
A close relative, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, confirmed the letter’s authenticity.
The relative said that the princess had been due to travel abroad for medical treatment around the time of her arrest in late February 2019, and was informed after her detention that she was accused of trying to forge a passport.
The charges were dropped, but she remains imprisoned along with a daughter who was with her at the time, the relative said.
