Brutal Reality Unveiled: Former Residents Expose Saudi 'Women's Homes' as Prisons
Ex-Inmates Expose Harsh Conditions of Saudi "Female Dormitories"
Former occupants of the so-called Dar al-Reaya facilities in Saudi Arabia have spoken out about the harrowing conditions within these state-run institutions, known as "women's rehabilitation centers" or "care homes." Women are reportedly punished for "disobedience," a term encompassing acts that displease the authorities.
The British newspaper, The Guardian, has published reports compiled over the last six months from women who were held in these institutions. Officially, these centers are designed to offer rehabilitation for women abandoned by their families for issues such as disobedience, extramarital relationships, or leaving home.
These Dar al-Reaya homes, established in the 1960s, function more like prisons for women under 30, who can be committed by male guardians or family members. They can only be released with the consent of their male guardian, and without it, they can be kept imprisoned for years or even for life.
A young Saudi woman, who managed to escape to exile, described these facilities as "hell." She stated, "I wanted to take my own life when I found out I was going to be sent to such a prison."
Activist Sarah Al-Yahia, the founder of the "Saudi Feminist White-Ribbon Movement," summarized, "It's a prison, not a care home, as they like to call it." She explained that women are referred to by numbers, given floggings for perceived infractions such as not praying or speaking to other women alone, and subjected to other forms of physical and psychological abuse.
An anonymous victim, named "Layla" by The Guardian, was committed after filing a police complaint about abuse by her father and brothers. She described the dire circumstances and the lack of escape options: "These women have no one. They can be abandoned for years, even without committing a crime. The only way out is a male guardian, marriage, or jumping from the building."
Speaking about these facilities is extremely risky, as no one dares to voice their concerns publicly due to the potential repercussions. For instance, activist Fawzia al-Otaibi, who fled Saudi Arabia in 2022, noted that voices supporting women's rights are largely silenced. This makes it nearly impossible to share firsthand accounts or gather material about the homes.
Human rights groups, such as ALQST, have described the Dar al-Reaya facilities as "state instruments for enforcing gender norms" that are "in stark contrast to the Saudi authorities' narrative of empowering women." They demand the abolishment of these discriminatory practices and the establishment of authentic protective shelters for women who have experienced abuse, rather than punishing them.
However, the Saudi government denies all allegations and claims that women can "leave the facilities at any time" and "do not need the consent of a guardian" - claims that directly contradict the accounts of those affected.
In summary, the testimonies of former inmates and human rights advocates paint a distressing picture of Saudi Arabia's Dar al-Reaya facilities as sites of systematic abuse, forced confinement, physical punishment, and psychological torment. These facilities, which are supposed to provide rehabilitation for vulnerable women, have sparked calls for reform and the eradication of such practices under the guise of care.
- Despite the Saudi government's assertion that the Dar al-Reaya facilities are designed to offer rehabilitation for women, human rights groups claim they are state instruments for enforcing gender norms that function more like prisons.
- The employment policy within these institutions, if considered, might include punishment for "disobedience" or perceived infractions such as not praying or speaking to other women alone, as described by activist Sarah Al-Yahia.
- In the context of community policy, the general-news report on the Dar al-Reaya facilities highlights the need for reform in serving the health-and-wellness of women, particularly in addressing womens-health issues and ensuring the rights of victims of abuse are protected, rather than reinforcing oppressive policies.
