On 5 November 2020 the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) expressed concern at the deteriorating health condition of detained Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul.
Al-Hathloul, 31, has been on a hunger strike since Oct. 26 against Al-Hair prison authorities. The prison approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Riyadh is Saudi Arabia’s largest detention center. [see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2020/10/23/saudi-arabia-uses-women-to-spruce-up-its-image-2-efforts/]
“The committee is seriously concerned by recent information concerning the conditions of Ms. Al-Hathloul’s prolonged detention, including reports that she is not allowed regular contact with her family,” read the statement.
Her case was singled out in a call by the CEDAW to release all detained women human rights defenders ahead of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day to be observed on Nov. 29.
Al-Hathloul was involved in promoting women’s rights in her country, including campaigns to allow women to drive and end male guardianship laws. She met the CEDAW in Feb. 2018 to speak on the state of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia.
On May 15, 2018, she was arrested on the pretext of national security, which allows arbitrary arrest and detention. “In February 2020, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia assured the committee that Ms. Al-Hathloul’s trial would take place in March 2020. However, it has been postponed several times since then,” said the CEDAW.
The committee said it “is alarmed” by the recent information concerning Al-Hathloul’s prolonged detention conditions, which have prompted her to start a hunger strike.
“Unlike other detainees, and contrary to UN Rules 26 and 42 that stipulates the treatment of women prisoners and non-custodial measures for women offenders, Ms. Al-Hathloul is neither allowed to have regular contact with her family nor to exercise activities, according to reports received,” CEDAW said.
Human rights defenders are entitled to “free and unhindered access” to communication without “fear or retribution”, CEDAW recalled. The Committee called these women “key partners in the dissemination, implementation and follow up of its recommendations”, and expressed concern over the situation of those facing reprisals in many parts of the world. MW
In the meantime Lewis Hamilton has been urged to speak out against Saudi Arabia’s “appalling” human rights record after it was announced that the country will stage its first Formula One race in 2021.
Exactly because 13 women’s rights defenders are currently on trial in Saudi Arabia, Amnesty International thinks that the sports washing efforts of Saudi Arabia should be countered. [see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2020/01/15/dakar-rally-sports-washing-par-excellence/]
Ahead of the last race in Italy, six-time world champion Hamilton wore a T-shirt with the message: “Women’s rights are human rights.”
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
January 11, 2021 at 16:53
[…] “We would urge Mr. Infantino to clarify the circumstances of his appearance in this video and to make a statement expressing support for jailed women’s human rights defenders like Loujain al-Hathloul,” Amnesty said. [https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2020/11/06/loujain-al-hathloul-and-her-health-singled-out-by-cedaw…] […]