Thread by @LinaAlhathloul

Saudi Foreign Minister @adelaljubair has told the BBC my sister @LoujainHathloul fate will be decided by the Saudi courts, and “our judiciary is independent”. He makes claims in the interview that I know to be untrue, and that raise more questions than answers. (THREAD)👇🏾

https://twitter.com/BBCWorld/status/1329964949515497477

First, when asked what Saudi Arabia will tell world leaders at this weekend’s virtual #G20 summit when they raise the issue of @LoujainHathloul and the other jailed women’s rights activists, he says “we have a legal system, we have laws, we implement our laws”.

Was it legal for my sister to be held for 10 months without charge, including 3 months in an unofficial detention facility where she was tortured? And is it legal for her to have been held for nearly 3 years now without trial?

Is it legal to practice “collective punishment” against our family by imposing a travel ban on family members?

Is it legal for her to have been deprived of family visits and phone calls for nearly 4 months?

She’s been on hunger strike since 26 October, and we’ve been denied all access to her.

The government Human Rights Commission is part of the cover-up: it’s blocking and muting anyone on Twitter who asks about @LoujainHathloul . Again, is this legal?

Second, @adelaljubair says “our judiciary is independent” – which it clearly isn’t. If it was, how could the Saudi ambassador to the UK say last week that the foreign ministry was debating whether the activists should be released? theguardian.com/world/2020/nov…

And why has Crown Prince MBS involved himself in the case by repeating the false accusations against the detainees, and claiming to have evidence, when even the courts have not produced any in over two years now?

Third, look at the double standards here: @adlaljubair says that “in our legal system the evidence is presented after the verdict is rendered, so that you don’t embarass somebody who turns out to be innocent”...

In the Khashoggi murder case, in which “we held people accountable, and people will be punished”, the defendants have never been named – yet @LoujainHathloul name and photo were all over the media, accusing her of treason even before charges were brought.

Fourth, the minister says @loujain’s detention is “nothing to do with advocacy or women’s rights, this has to do with national security”. Dear Mr @adelaljubair, have you actually seen the charge sheet? Would you like me to send you a copy? It’s literally all about her activism.

Also, when you tell foreigners not to dictate to you, and that it’s “for the Saudi people to decide”, let’s be clear that you mean the Saudi authorities. The Saudi people have no voice whatsoever in this or any other matter in our country.

And “do we release every prisoner in Saudi Arabia in order to make a gesture” to the world community? Yes – release every prisoner who is wrongfully detained, as a clear statement to the world that you believe in human rights!