Saudi Arabia: After More Than Two Years In Arbitrary Pre-Trial Detention, Loujain Al-Hathloul Regains Her Basic Right To Stand For Trial.

Location: Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
Date: November 26, 2020

Available in: 🇸🇦  عربي

Saudi Arabia— With a weak body and shaky voice, prisoner of conscience Loujain attended her trial today and was finally allowed to present her defense. The Coalition For Women In Journalism remains concerned about Loujain’s safety and calls upon the Saudi judicial authorities to end this farce trial and release Loujain.

Loujain’s family was informed on November 24, 2020, that Loujain would stand trial on November 25, 2020. The short notice left her lawyers nearly no time to prepare their defense nor consult with Loujain. The family was thrilled that she will finally stand trial and they will be able to see her since family visits have been banned since March due to COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Loujain announced a hunger strike on October 27, protesting the punitive actions against her in prison and her deprivation of basic human rights. Ahead of the Women20 summit in Saudi Arabia, a global campaign was launched calling for the release of Loujain and all prisoners of conscience in Saudi prisons.

Due to the hunger strike, Loujain appeared quite weak in court today, her voice trembling, while she shook uncontrollably, according to her sister Lina Al-Hathloul. Aliaa Al-Hathloul, Loujain’s second sister, expressed her relief that Loujain was able to present her defense despite the repetitive interruptions. Loujain’s case has been transferred to the Specialized Criminal Court for cases related to terrorism.

Loujain has been imprisoned since May 2018. Since June 6, Loujain hasn't contacted her family or sent them letters. Loujain’s family launched a social media campaign inquiring about her condition, calling upon the regime to either allow them to contact and visit her or to issue a statement clarifying her health condition. She is accused of receiving foreign funding to impose foreign agendas, attending international conferences and events, and other unfounded claims.

Loujain began her commitment activism in 2012 to demand women’s right to drive in Saudi Arabia. Coming from a progressive family, she received immense support from her father to freely campaign for women’s rights.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism has issued several alerts regarding Loujian’s health and mistreatment throughout her imprisonment. We call upon the Saudi authorities to end her suffering and release her immediately.

Loujain’s deteriorating health condition at the courthouse today is a representation of the actual face of the regime and its intimidation and repression of women’s rights. While The Coalition For Women In Journalism is relieved for the fact that Loujain appeared finally in court. We underline the burlesque nature of the charges against her and urge the Saudi judicial authorities to accelerate the process and to end this farce trial.

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The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world, and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ. Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org

The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the incidents in Turkey with great concern. Since March 8, Women's Day, police violence against women journalists increasingly continues in the country. As the coalition, we urge the Turkish state to provide a free environment for journalists. Following the news is our most fundamental democratic right to report. We demand the immediate release of our detained colleagues. Journalism is not a crime. Journalism cannot be prevented.

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