Saudi authorities have arrested seven prominent women's rights advocates, just weeks before the kingdom's longstanding driving ban on women is set to be lifted, Human Rights Watch said Saturday.
While the reasons behind the arrests are not clear, activists told HRW that in September 2017, "the royal court had called the country's prominent activists ... and warned them not to speak to the media."
"The calls were made the same day the authorities announced that they would lift the driving ban on women," HRW said.
The detainees rounded up since May 15 include Loujain al-Hathloul, Aziza al-Yousef and Eman al-Nafjan, women who have long opposed the driving ban -- to be lifted June 24 -- as well as the kingdom's enduring guardianship laws.
Saudi Arabia's guardianship system require women to obtain permission from their fathers, brothers, husbands or even sons for a host of life decisions. [AFP] Read more
