GREENSBORO, N.C. — The International Civil Rights Center & Museum has chosen a Saudi Arabian Women’s Rights activist and advocate for Human and Civil Rights as its 2021 Trail Blazer. Prominent Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul, 31, was convicted by a Saudi court on Monday on charges which include seeking to change the … Imprisoned Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has been transferred to a terrorism court for trial, as her family warned that she looked visibly weak. Possibly, Loujain al-Hathloul will be released in a matter of months. "My parents told us that they've never seen Loujain as weak and as hopeless as she was on that visit. Human rights advocates worldwide on Monday expressed solidarity with the al-Hathloul family, drew attention to the human rights record of the Saudi regime, and took aim at Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known globally as MBS. She was put in a solitary confinement in mid-April 2019 and remains there to date, her sister said. "She doesn't want to get out and have the people who tortured her and imprisoned her walk with impunity and still be able to do this to other women after her," Loujain's sister, Lina al-Hathloul, told CNN. Saudi Arabia must immediately disclose the status of detained activist Loujain Al-Hathloul who has been unable to contact her family for three weeks … She asked to stay in her cell, with an hour of social activities a day, according to her family. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. Editor’s Note: The below is an expanded version of a piece published in the current issue of National Review.. T here could hardly be a stronger person, says her brother Walid. Loujain AlHathloul is a Saudi women's rights activist, and a political prisoner since May 2018. And if every woman in Saudi Arabia who advocates for women driving were to be put in jail, half the women in Saudi Arabia would be in jail.". A prominent Saudi female activist, who campaigned for women's right to drive, has been sentenced to more than five years in prison. "She told them that she will start a hunger strike on that day ... My parents tried everything to cheer her up but Loujain was just sure about what she wanted ... she doesn't want to survive in this prison anymore where she's not even allowed to have regular calls.". Lina al-Hathloul and her sister Loujain pictured in an undated photo on a train from Brussels. Loujain al-Hathloul, one of Saudi Arabia’s most high-profile women’s rights activists, was sentenced Monday to more than five years in prison after being convicted on charges that include seeking to change the Saudi political system and harming national security. Hathloul has told her family that she was sexually assaulted and tortured while in detention, including waterboarding, flogging and electrocution, according to … She was then forced on a plane to Saudi Arabia, where she was barred from traveling and later arrested. Updated 2358 GMT (0758 HKT) November 21, 2020. She's on trial for matters related to national security. Loujain al-Hathloul, one of the most prominent women’s rights activists from Saudi Arabia, was Monday sentenced to five years and eight months in prison by a Saudi Specialised Criminal Court. (Reuters) Jailed Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al Hathloul has begun a new hunger strike in prison to demand regular contact with her family. Hathloul, 31, was jailed in May 2018 during an arrest sweep that targeted prominent opponents of the kingdom's former law barring women from driving. Loujain al Hathloul and her pre-trial imprisonment for the past two and half years have drawn international criticism from rights groups, members of the US Congress, and European Union lawmakers. Loujain AlHathloul (31) is a Saudi woman human rights activist. Jailed Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has gone on hunger strike, her family said. For much of her imprisonment, Hathloul has detailed her hardships -- including. Hathloul's family says they have not received news about her since October 26. Al-Hathloul’s family said the prosecutor’s evidence included her contacts with rights group Amnesty International. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Here, al-Hathloul's sisters, Lina and Alia al-Hathloul, share Loujain's story, in their own words, and why they will never stop fighting for their sister's freedom. Prominent Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul, 31, was convicted by a Saudi court on Monday on charges which include seeking to change the … “Loujain al-Hathloul has already spent more than 900 days in detention, during which she endured torture, sexual harassment and other forms of ill-treatment, was held in solitary confinement and denied access to her family. In August 2019, Saudi authorities offered to release Hathloul on condition that. A Saudi court on Monday sentenced prominent women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul to five years and eight months in prison, her family and media said, after her conviction in a trial that has drawn international condemnation. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Mid-August 2018. Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. Loujain al-Hathloul (Courtesy of the family of Loujain al-Hathloul) The story of Loujain al-Hathloul, political prisoner T here could hardly be a stronger person, says her brother Walid. Hathloul, whose detention since 2018 has made her emblematic of the fight for women's rights in Saudi Arabia, began refusing food on … Loujain’s first phone call to the family. However, those visits ended when … When their parents saw Hathloul in August, after having last spoken to her on the phone in April, they had found her looking "extremely skinny and extremely weak," Lina related. Loujain was born on 31 July 1989 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Loujain al-Hathloul is also a known associate of Megan Markle The case is the latest being held at the specialised criminal court (SCC), which was setup by the Saudi Royal Family to deal with criminal activity ranging from terrorism to more minor security and social infractions, and has had great success so far in bringing more peace and stability to the Kingdom. Loujain al-Hathloul, one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent prisoners, has been accused of harming the kingdom’s security. Loujain al-Hathloul, who was sentenced on Monday to five years and eight months' prison, has become emblematic of the fight for women's rights in Saudi Arabia. The first time family was allowed to visit Loujain. Human rights advocates worldwide on Monday expressed solidarity with the al-Hathloul family, drew attention to the human rights record of the Saudi regime, and took aim at Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known globally as MBS. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Walid al-Hathloul told Ghoussoub, the family was able to visit Loujain weekly. Saudi Arabia has moved the trial of prominent women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul to a court for terror-related crimes, according to her family. Lina and Alia, the sisters of Loujain Al-Hathloul, rejected the verdict without announcing whether the family will be appealing it or not. To tell Saudi Arabia that they won't believe any of the reforms when the ones who have been advocating for them are behind bars," Loujain al-Hathloul's sister, Lina al-Hathloul, told CNN. She has been recognized around the globe for her firm stand on behalf of gender equality. But she seems set to be released by next March, sources said, based on time served. The University of British Columbia is profoundly disappointed by today’s news that Loujain Al-Hathloul has been sentenced to five years and eight months in prison, with two years and 10 months suspended. "It's the duty of the international community to call on the release of Loujain.". Family of UBC grad imprisoned in Saudi Arabia fears for her safety amid sudden silence. "Loujain was OK physically, but psychologically she was destroyed," Lina said. Loujain al-Hathloul's sister, Lina al-Hathloul, told NBC News by telephone from Berlin that the siblings' parents had witnessed the hearing in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. The prosecutor had called for the maximum sentence of 20 years, citing evidence such as al-Hathloul’s tweets in support of women driving and speaking out against male guardianship laws that had led to multiple instances of Saudi women fleeing abusive families for refuge abroad. Loujain al-Hathloul, who was sentenced on Monday to five years and eight months' prison, has become emblematic of the fight for women's rights in Saudi Arabia. Loujain Al-Hathloul is presently incarcerated by her country's government as punishment for her work of advocating for the right of a woman to drive a car and against the male guardian system, in much the … But after another visit on September 9, Loujain was again denied contact with her family until a meeting with her parents on October 26, when she informed them that she would resume a hunger strike, said Lina. After spending 5 years in Jeddah, Loujain’s family moved to France for 5 years after which they returned to Saudi Arabia. Loujain al-Hathloul: Saudi court hands prison sentence to women's rights activist Read More » When her tweets stopped, it soon became clear to her family and friends what had happened. Saudi authorities have not responded to CNN's request for comment on the allegations made by Hathloul's relatives. "(The plan to lift the ban on) women's driving was decreed by His Majesty (King Salman) six months before they were detained. The … Ms. al-Hathloul, 31, who went on a two-week hunger strike in the fall to protest restrictions on family visits and other conditions in prison, appeared weak in recent weeks, her family said. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. FILE PHOTO: Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al Hathloul is seen in this undated handout picture. Saudi Arabia must immediately disclose the status of detained activist Loujain Al-Hathloul who has been unable to contact her family for three weeks … First contact with Loujain after her arrest on 15 May 2018. Al-Hathloul was detained again on the eve of 15 May 2018, along with Eman al-Nafjan, Aisha al-Mana, Aziza al-Yousef, Madeha al-Ajroush and some men involved in campaigning for women's rights in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hathloul’s family say in 2018, shortly after attending a U.N.-related meeting in Geneva about the situation of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, she was kidnapped by Emirati security forces in Abu Dhabi, where she’d been residing and pursuing a master’s degree. Loujain al-Hathloul’s family say she has been subjected to electric shocks and has been sexually harassed. The court gave Al-Hathloul a month to appeal the ruling. In January 2020, Hathloul was allowed to leave her solitary cell, but she could not adjust to the sounds of other people after having been deprived of interactions for nearly seven months, Lina said. Loujain told her family that she had been granted the visit because she had been on hunger strike and prison authorities had given in to her demands. Loujain al-Hathloul, who was sentenced on Monday to five years and eight months' prison, has become emblematic of the fight for women's rights … We are extremely concerned for her wellbeing and safety, and reiterate our calls for her immediate and unconditional release. The family of the jailed Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul says her trial has been transferred to a terrorism tribunal. The judge suspended two years and ten months of her sentence, and gave her credit for the time she has already spent in prison. Loujain al-Hathloul, who successfully campaigned to win Saudi women the right to drive, has allegedly been tortured in prison and recently launched a hunger strike over her jail conditions Her family is hoping for the best, although dictatorships are good at dashing hopes. Still she appeared headstrong and alert. Put in solitary confinement. Al-Hathloul, whose family alleges she has faced sexual harassment and torture in detention, was recently handed a near six-year prison term on charges related to national security. The 31-year-old long campaigned for women to be able to drive and for an end to the kingdom's notorious guardianship system, which requires women to get permission from male relatives for many decisions. "The Committee is alarmed by the recent information concerning the conditions of Ms. Al-Hathloul's prolonged detention, which have prompted her to start a hunger strike," read a statement by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. Family fears activist being pressured into giving false confessions Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has been in detention for 900 days. Loujain al-Hathloul, one of the most prominent women’s rights activists from Saudi Arabia, was Monday sentenced to five years and eight months in prison by a Saudi Specialised Criminal Court. Imprisoned Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has been transferred to a terrorism court for trial, as her family warned that she looked visibly weak. "Unlike other detainees, and contrary to Rules 26 and 42 of the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders ... Ms. Al-Hathloul is not allowed to have regular contact with her family nor to exercise activities, according to reports received," it said. Loujain al-Hathloul has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since 2018 for defying a ban on women driving. Rights groups consider the prosecution a sham. On December 28, 2020, 31-year-old Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul was sentenced to nearly six years in prison through the kingdom's Specialized Criminal Court. She won't accept to be released without a full and real justice. Her relentless activism directly led to the lifting of the ban on women driving but at a personal cost to herself,” GSS VP External Alireza Kamyabi wrote. 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While the prospect of release has been long-awaited, the news is not reassuring to Hathloul and her family. Loujain said during the call that she had been taken to Jeddah. Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul has been in Saudi prison since May 2018, charged with women's rights activism and contacting journalists. Return to Dhahban Prison from secret prison. Her sister, Lina al-Hathloul, who has been tirelessly campaigning for Loujain’s release for the 958 days she has been unjustly detained, said on Twitter: “Loujain cried … Loujain was born on 31 July 1989 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. CNN's Nic Robertson contributed to this report from Riyadh. "She's the most outspoken (Saudi detainee) behind bars. “Loujain is an inspiration to all who work to make the world a more equitable and inclusive place. Saudi authorities have repeatedly denied allegations of torture and sexual abuse in their prisons. Most of the activists detained in the wave of arrests which targeted Hathloul were freed in early 2019, after immense international pressure. Loujain Al-Hathloul is presently incarcerated by her country's government as punishment for her work of advocating for the right of a woman to drive a car and against the male guardian system, in much the same way as the United States imprisoned activists for advancing civil and human rights. She had been protesting the suspension of communication after she learned that at least one other prisoner still had regular contact with her family, according to Lina. A UN committee of independent experts earlier this month expressed alarm at reports of Hathloul's deteriorating health condition and criticized Saudi Arabia's apparent refusal to allow contact with her family. Loujain al-Hathloul (Arabic: لجين الهذلول ‎ Lujjayn al-Hadhlūl; born 31 July 1989) is a Saudi women's rights activist, a social media figure, and a political prisoner.She is a graduate of the University of British Columbia. Hathloul is believed to be the most vocal political detainee currently inside Saudi prisons, having made the plight of the kingdom's imprisoned women's rights defenders known to the outside world and sparking international outrage. For most of 2020, Hathloul has been denied regular calls and visits with her family, her siblings said, adding that officials cited the coronavirus pandemic as the reason for suspending communications. Loujain al-Hathloul, one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent prisoners, has been accused of harming the kingdom’s security. Loujain al-Hathloul was sentenced on Monday to nearly six years in prison under a vague and broadly-worded law aimed at combating terrorism, according to state-linked media. G20 leaders are meeting this weekend at a virtual summit hosted by Riyadh, which currently heads the club of rich nations. She is a leading advocate for the promotion of gender equality and women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Loujain Al-Hathloul was kidnapped from UAE in March 2018 and deported to Saudi Arabia where she was arrested for a few days then put under a travel ban. 4 July 2018. In a statement, Lina al-Hathloul said that "Loujain stands for any citizen who speaks out with love for their country and wants the best for their country." The 31-year-old activist was one of a handful of female activists denied release. The crackdown happened just weeks before the ban was lifted, In an interview with CNN's Nic Robertson on Friday, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Jubeir said Hathloul's case "was up to the courts. After spending 5 years in Jeddah, Loujain’s family moved to France for 5 years after which they returned to Saudi Arabia. Human Rights Watch interpreted the purpose of the arrests as frightening "anyone expressing skepticism about the crown prince's rights agenda". ", "The idea that she and her friends were detained because they advocated women's driving is preposterous," said Jubeir. Loujain AlHathloul is a Saudi women's rights activist, and a political prisoner since May 2018. The charges rely on a series of alleged confessions, according to the documents, which state that Hathloul confessed to applying for a job at the UN along with confessing to being in contact with the human rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Ms. al-Hathloul, 31, who went on a two-week hunger strike in the fall to protest restrictions on family visits and other conditions in prison, appeared weak in recent weeks, her family said. HANDOUT/Reuters. The event has revived discussion about the kingdom's human rights abuses, on an uptick under the leadership of, "It's the duty of the international community to ask about (Loujain). Before her arrest in 2018, Loujain AlHathloul was one of the key figures of the Women to Drive movement, which called for the abolition of the driving ban for women. (CNN) The family of Loujain al-Hathloul, a jailed Saudi women's rights defender believed by her relatives and advocacy organizations to be on hunger strike, has … Photograph: Reuters Loujain al-Hathloul, who has a month to appeal the verdict, was arrested shortly before the kingdom gave women the right to drive in 2018. Students can write messages in support of al-Hathloul on the #StudentsForLoujain website. Loujain al-Hathloul (Courtesy of the family of Loujain al-Hathloul) The story of Loujain al-Hathloul, political prisoner. AOL is part of Verizon Media. Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul was among a number of activists rounded up in 2018. Brazil's then President Michel Temer, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump line up for the family photo during the G20 leaders' summit in Buenos Aires, on November 30, 2018. “Loujain al-Hathloul has already spent more than 900 days in detention, during which she endured torture, sexual harassment and other forms of ill-treatment, was held in solitary confinement and denied access to her family. Rights groups consider the prosecution a sham. Loujain al-Hathloul's sister, Lina al-Hathloul, told NBC News by telephone from Berlin that the siblings' parents had witnessed the hearing in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. The 31-year-old long campaigned for women to be able to drive and for an end to the kingdom's notorious guardianship system, which requires women to get permission from male relatives for many decisions. Ms. Al-Hathloul, who graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Arts in 2014, was among several women’s rights activists who were arrested and detained in Saudi Arabia in May 2018. (CNN)The family of Loujain al-Hathloul, a jailed Saudi women's rights defender believed by her relatives and advocacy organizations to be on hunger strike, has called on the G20 to demand that Saudi Arabia release the prominent activist. … In this Nov. 30, 2014 image made from video released by Loujain al-Hathloul, al-Hathloul drives towards the United Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia border before her arrest on Dec. 1 … Loujain al-Hathloul, … Loujain al-Hathloul, who has allegedly been tortured in prison in the kingdom, successfully campaigned to win Saudi women the right to drive. Saudi Arabia of UBC grad imprisoned in Saudi Arabia, where loujain al-hathloul family was destroyed, '' said.... Promotion of gender equality, after immense international pressure as she was destroyed, '' lina said on! 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