Leeds Protests For Woman's Rights Activist Facing Torture in Saudi Arabia

Protesters have been outside the Home Office on Kirkstall Road to try and stop the deportation of a Woman's Rights Activist to Saudi Arabia, where she could face torture or death.

Five years ago Raja Bachir Khouja (56 years old) and her husband Mahmoud Alhassan (67 years old), came to Leeds on a visitor permit. The conflict started in their home country of Syria and Immigration Officers here, said it was not safe for them to return. They stayed in Leeds, living with friends and eventually got their own house through the benefits system. They applied for asylum in the UK, as their home country was at war. Asylum was rejected and instead Immigration Officers said the couple should be sent to Saudi Arabia, as they have dual citizenship there. There is now concern for the safety of Raja as she’s spoken out against the strict regime of the Saudi government. Saudi religious police the ‘Mutawa’ have made repeated death threats against Raja Bachir Khouja because she is a prominent Woman’s Rights Activist. In Saudi Arabia women are not allowed to vote, drive a car or show their faces in public, among many other things. Raja has written articles condemning the strict regime and now faces deportation there.

Fearing a life of imprisonment, torture or death because she is an outspoken women’s rights activist, Syrian born Raja Bachir Khouja her Saudi husband Mahmoud Alhassan were arrested and detained at the Yarl’s Wood detention centre on June 5th in preparation for deportation on Thursday 25th June.

Specialist immigration solicitor Emma Brooksbank of Simpson Millar is representing the pair and says: “They are struggling in detention, not least because Mahmoud is diabetic and medication dependent. His medication is kept locked away and is not always provided when he requests it. It is essential that he takes his medication as soon as he eats in order to manage his condition.

“Incredibly, they are facing removal to Saudi Arabia, despite having lived in Syria for over 13 years before the war broke out. They have been in the UK since November 2010 having originally arrived on tourist visas and having made several applications to remain. They have always complied and are not at risk of becoming absconders.

“Ironically, just two days before they were remanded to Yarl’s Wood, Raja and Mahmoud were celebrating, having appeared in court in Sheffield where a judge had granted them continuing housing benefit and support, wishing them well in their asylum application.”

A judicial review was lodged against the decision to remove them from the UK which was rejected on 10th June. An urgent renewal application has been submitted to the Court and is under consideration.

“Raja has been hounded from afar by the Saudi-based ‘Mutawa’,” adds Emma Brooksbank. “They are Islamic Religious police who enforce Sharia law under the guise of something called ‘the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice’. She received at least three threats on her life for actions such as observing International Women’s Day Festivals and writing articles promoting the rights of women to vote, show their faces in public, drive a car, and so on.”