Saudi Princess Basmah Says She's in Prison and Poor Health

Life is very difficult for women in most Islamic countries. They have few rights and often are required to be virtually invisible in public. While being royalty might be better, it is still far from being a reasonable lifestyle. This story adds to the list of Princesses who have escaped Islam, or have simply disappeared for wanting freedom, or just speaking the truth.

By Clyde Hughes

Saudi Princess Basmah bint Saud bin Abdulaziz al-Saud attends a discussion at the Middle East Institute (MEI) in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 2017. Michael Reynolds/EPA

April 17 (UPI) -- A Saudi princess posted on social media this week that she has been held in prison with her daughter and pleaded to be released for medical reasons.

Princess Basmah bint Saud bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, 56, the outspoken daughter of Saudi Arabia's King Abdul Aziz, who ruled the country from 1953-64, appealed to her uncle, King Salman and cousin, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to be freed.

"I am currently being arbitrarily held at Al-Ha'ir prison without criminal, or otherwise any charges against my person," the princess said on her official Twitter account. "My health is deteriorating to an extent that is serve, and that could lead to my death."

Al-Ha'ir prison is considered by some to be the worst prison in the Middle East.

A former business partner of the princess confirmed the tweets Thursday and said someone hacked into her account and deleted them.

The princess and her daughter were taken into custody last March when they tried to leave Saudi Arabia for Switzerland. She said at the time she needed urgent medical treatment.

Al-Saud has been known for years to support progressive causes, which were seen as controversial in Saudi Arabia. She called for women's rights, reforms during the Arab Spring and changing how the country is run from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.

"The arrest of a Saudi princess should come as no surprise," said Rothna Begum, senior women's rights researcher at the humanitarian watchdog Human Rights Watch. "Princess Basmah has been openly critical of the country's women's rights record in the past and her arrest shows that no woman, no matter her background, is untouchable if she is deemed to be a potential threat."

Nothing is more dangerous to a misogynistic monarchy than an intelligent woman. A society that cannot endure questioning and criticism is a very weak society indeed.