Basma bint Saud, a niece of Saudi King Salman, was imprisoned without charge for almost three years. After her release, it became apparent that she might have been abused in prison.
The lawyer for Saudi Princess Basma bint Saud, who has been imprisoned for almost three years, sees evidence that the 58-year-old was mistreated during her time in prison.
In a video conversation with her, however, he held back on this topic because she was still being monitored, Henri Estramant explained in an interview with RTL / ntv published on Friday. The state of health of the princess had “deteriorated dramatically” in detention, he said. She lost ten kilograms in weight and was “almost unrecognizable” in the video conversation.
Released after three years in prison
Basma bint Saud, a niece of Saudi King Salman, was released with her daughter about a month ago after almost three years in detention without charge. Security forces arrested the two in March 2019. According to Estramant, the accusation was that they wanted to “leave the country illegally”.
The princess can move freely in the country, but not leave the country, Estramant explained. She wanted to go to Switzerland for treatment. “She has now approached the king and asked for special permission,” he said. “She would even be willing to accept that she would be escorted by security guards from Saudi Arabia if there was a suspicion of an escape.” According to the lawyer, the princess suffers from a chronic intestinal disease.
Criticized for human rights violations
Basma bint Saud has advocated reforms in Saudi Arabia in the past. She denounced power structures and the lack of women’s rights, but also declared that she was behind the royal family. In recent years, Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the powerful Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, has expanded women’s rights, among other things. At the same time, the ruling family has been criticized for human rights violations. Numerous activists, human rights activists and intellectuals are still in prison.
Source: Stern
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
