Standing up to Saudi cowardice

The following is an excerpt from an editorial in the Washington Post:

When it comes to sheer courage of her convictions, Loujain al-Hathloul deserves high recognition. As an activist for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, she pushed hard to win what is taken for granted in the modern world: the right for women to drive.

For her activism, Hathloul was imprisoned more than a year ago and tortured. She remains behind bars, even as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave the approval for women to drive and to ease the oppressive system of male guardianship. Her family has charged that Saud al-Qahtani, a senior adviser to the crown prince, was present during some of the torture sessions and threatened to rape and kill her.

Now comes word from Hathloul’s family of a further disgraceful act. Hathloul’s brother and sister said the Saudi authorities proposed a deal that she would be released if she denied she was tortured. According to the family, the first demand was a written statement, which she was prepared to sign, but when the Saudi officials then insisted that she also record a video, she refused.

Saudi jails are full of dissidents and activists who simply wanted to speak their minds. Financial investors recently tempted by the anticipated share offering in Saudi Aramco should be clear-eyed about whom they are shaking hands with. These are cowards who have not only killed a journalist and tortured an activist but also attempted to cover up their brutality. Those who invest in the tyrant’s realm also enable his crimes.