Ex-Detainees Unveil Harsh Truths About Saudi "Female Dormitories"
Article:
A chilling portrait of oppression emerges from former inmates of Saudi Arabia's Dar al-Reaya facilities, deemed "women's homes" but described as hellish institutions by those who have witnessed their brutal realities. These state-run institutions, established in the 1960s, function more like prisons for women under the age of 30, as they can be committed by male guardians or family members for perceived disobedience.
The British Guardian published reports based on testimonies from women who were confined in these facilities over the past six months. Officially, these facilities aim at the rehabilitation of women expelled by their families for reasons such as disobedience, extramarital relationships, or leaving home. However, the brutal truth inflicted upon these women tells a different story.
Suspended in a limbo-like existence, these women face weekly humiliation, psychological pressure, and brutal control. Floggings, as routine punishment for minor infractions such as failing to pray or speaking to other women alone, are part and parcel of their ordeal.even disclosing their family names can result in punishment. Inmates are subjected to forced religious teachings, complete isolation from the outside world, and are unable to leave without the permission of their male guardians or families.
Upon arrival, women are subjected to strip searches and virginity tests. They are given sedatives to induce sleep, addressed by numbers rather than their names, and retained in these facilities for years, trapped between the abusive family environments they fled and the abusive conditions they are subjected to inside these institutions.
Multiple instances of suicide and attempted suicides among the women detained have brought attention to the atrocities committed within the walls of these so-called "women's care homes." Activists have demanded the abolition of these practices and the establishment of genuine shelters that protect, rather than punish, vulnerable women.
These facilities have been criticized for subjecting women to abusive, coercive conditions that violate their human rights, particularly their rights to freedom, bodily integrity, and protection from torture and ill-treatment. These abuses significantly undermine women's rights and freedoms in the kingdom, sparking international condemnation and calls for reform or abolition of such facilities. Human rights organizations, such as ALQST, consider these homes as tools used by the state to enforce gender conformity and suppress free speech and women's rights advocacy.
Despite the allegations, the Saudi government denies all claims, asserting that women can leave these facilities at any time and do not require a guardian's consent. However, the experiences of those who have suffered within these walls paint a markedly different picture.
- In light of the harrowing testimonies from victims, there is an urgent need for the Saudi government to revise its community policy, particularly with regards to the Dar al-Reaya facilities, to ensure they adhere to principles of health-and-wellness, women's health, and human rights.
- As the international community continues to scrutinize the conditions within these institutionalized "women's homes," it is essential for the government to review its employment policy and implement measures aimed at promoting gender equality, eliminating abusive practices, and protecting the rights of women.
- Given the ongoing political controversy surrounding these facilities, it is crucial for the media to extensively cover general-news stories on women's rights, shedding light on the scientific evidence that supports the need for reform in the treatment and rehabilitation of women in Saudi institutions.
