Saudi Arabia: Will Arwa Baghdadi Have Her Baby in Prison? · Global Voices
Anas Soliman

Pregnant Saudi prisoner Arwa Baghdadi is about to give birth behind bars. In May 2011, the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), an independent unlicensed human rights organization, published a formal letter [ar] on behalf of Arwa's mother, Huda al-Ahdl to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.
Arwa's brother was killed in violent clashes with Saudi security forces in 2011. Following his death, Arwa and her husband, mother, father, sister-in-law, three young children from the family, and a member of their domestic staff were arrested without a warrant.
Arwa Baghdadi, had a one-year-old child when she was arrested and was pregnant. With all other family members behind bars, Arwa took her one-year child to prison with her.
In March, ACPRA reported [ar] that, while pregnant, Arwa had gone on hunger-strike to protest her detainment conditions (including alleged sexual harassment [ar]) and trial procedures.
Saudi journalist Ebtihal Mubarak tweeted [ar]:
Citing Baghdadi's dual citizenship, Mubarak continued by demanding the interference of the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh:
@EbtihalMubarak: Arwa Al-Baghdadi a Saudi/American detainee w/out trial @USEmbassyRiyadh shd interfere & ask #Saudi gov 2 allow birth & recovery in hospital
When the embassy responded to the demands, Mubarak tweeted [ar]:
Mohammad Al-Qahtani, ACPRA co-founder commented [ar]:
Saudi Twitter user, Khaled Aba al-Khiyl, wrote [ar]:
Famous Saudi cleric, Salman al-Odah, tweeted [ar]:
Saudi lawyer and human rights advocate Abdulaziz al-Hussan commented [ar]:
The news finally broke that the ministry of interior had agreed to allow Arwa to stay in the hospital [ar]:
But she noted [ar]:
Update: On Thursday, June 28, Arwa was released to the United Doctors private hospital (photo).