HRW: Saudi Regime arrests three women

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said three more women’s rights activists were arrested as the regime intensifies its crackdown weeks before it lifts a driving ban against women

“Said Samah Hadid, The Amnesty`s Middle East diectr of Campaigns despite international outcry and calls for the release of these activists, they still remain detained for their peaceful human rights work

Saudi Arabian authorities cannot continue to publicly state they are dedicated to reform while treating women’s rights campaigners in this cruel way,” she added

On Sunday, Saudi paper Okaz apparently gave a stern warning to other human rights campaigners by reporting that the seven arrested a day earlier could face death penalty

Saudi lawyers and judges, meanwhile, told the Middle East Eye news portal that they would face the sentence if government investigations result in charges of treason and conspiracy against the state

Most of the detainees are prominent figures, who enjoy considerable respect among the Saudi grassroots, including university professors and a psychotherapist