UK woman in Saudi ‘locked up over a kiss’

A YOUNG Welsh woman who says she has been imprisoned by her father in Saudi Arabia because she “kissed a guy” has asked a British High Court judge for help.

Amina Al-Jeffery, 21, who grew up in Swansea and has dual British and Saudi Arabian nationality, claims she is banned from using the internet, phone and bathroom. She has also said her father hit her and says she has “metal bars” on her bedroom door.

She was described as a “locked-up girl with a shaved head”, the judge was told.

Her father, Mohammed Al-Jeffery, an academic in his 60s, moved to Saudi Arabia from South Wales about four years ago and disputes his daughter’s allegations.

Lawyers representing Miss Al-Jeffery have taken legal action in London to protect her. They have asked Mr Justice Holman to look at ways of helping Miss Al-Jeffery.

The judge is analysing the case at a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

Mr Justice Holman said he had to consider whether he had the power to make orders relating to a woman abroad. The judge said the “right thing” might be to order that she be taken to the British Consulate in Jeddah.

He said if she sought sanctuary, Foreign Office staff would then have to make decisions.

Henry Setright QC, representing Miss Al-Jeffery, had spoken to a member of staff at the British Consulate in Jeddah and her complaints had been outlined in a note of that meeting.

Miss Al-Jeffrey said there had been a “practice” of “locking her in her room”. A younger sister had been told she was an “evil girl”. She said a sister had seen her in Saudi Arabia and found “a locked-up girl with a shaved head”.