Saudi Arabia tortured and sexually harassed human rights activists, including several women, human rights groups have alleged.<\/p>\n
Prisoners in the kingdom’s Dhahban Prison have allegedly been electrocuted and flogged.<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia arrested several women’s rights activists earlier this year and influential clerics and intellectuals have also been detained.<\/p>\n
The BBC has approached the Saudi authorities for comment.<\/p>\n
Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch issued statements on Tuesday detailing alleged torture of detained prisoners.<\/p>\n
Activists were left unable to walk or stand properly after electrocution and flogging<\/a>, an Amnesty International release said, with one women reportedly sexually harassed by interrogators in face masks.<\/p>\n Human Rights Watch’s release also speaks of electrocution<\/a>, as well as whipping and “forcible hugging and kissing” of at least three detained women.<\/p>\n King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, were praised last year for launching a modernisation drive, including the lifting of a ban on women driving.<\/p>\n But critics say that has been accompanied with a crackdown on dissent, and the country is also facing an international outcry over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul.<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia has blamed the killing on rogue agents but denied claims that the crown prince had knowledge of the operation.<\/p>\n However, the CIA reportedly believes Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder.<\/p>\n On Tuesday,\u00a0US President Donald Trump issued a statement defending ties with Saudi Arabia<\/a>, despite saying the Crown Prince “could very well” have known about the assassination.<\/p>\n Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"