TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Saudi Arabia has released a daughter and child who had been held without charge for nearly three years. Princess Basmah Binti Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, 57, is a businessman, activist and member of the royal family. He went missing in March 2019 along with his adult daughter Souhoud Al Sharif.
“The two women were released from prison and arrived at their home in Jeddah on Thursday 6 January 2022,” said his legal adviser, Henri Estramant.
“The princess is fine but will seek medical attention,” said Estramant. “He looks tired but still in good spirits. Grateful to be reunited with his sons.”
The Saudi state media office did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation. The government has never publicly commented on this case.
In 2020, Princess Basmah said via her social media that she had been detained in the capital Riyadh for more than a year. He is in sick condition.
Princess Basmah is the youngest child of the late King Saud. It diligently criticizes the government’s treatment of women.
He was arrested in February 2019 while traveling abroad for medical treatment. He is accused of trying to forge a passport, according to a close relative.
The charges were later dropped, but he remained in prison with his daughter who was then traveling with him. In her social media, Putri Basmah said she was being held in Al-Ha’ir prison.
There has been no confirmation whether Princess Basmah’s arrest is related to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s consolidation of power. It is also not known whether his detention was due to dissent, including that of a women’s rights activist.
In a petition submitted to the United Nations, on 5 March 2020 and seen by Reuters, the family Princess Basmah suggested the reason for his detention because of his penchant for criticism. He also once asked about the frozen wealth of his late father.
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REUTERS
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