The brother of imprisoned Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul has voiced concern over her upcoming trial, which he says will begin in a terrorism court in the capital Riyadh on Wednesday morning local time.
Ms al-Hathloul is one of at least nine women who were arrested during a crackdown on women’s rights activists in May.
Activists claim some detainees, including 29-year-old al-Hathloul, were held in , including electric shocks, flogging, and sexual assault.
Saudi officials have denied those allegations as “false”.
Walid al-Hathloul, who lives in Canada, told SBS Arabic24 that the family had many questions which remained unanswered ahead of the trial commencement.
Six of the women's rights activists currently imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. Source: Supplied
"The fact that the Saudi authorities deny any torture, this makes us concerned on how they will treat her," he said.
"We don’t know why she is arrested, we have sent messages and Telegrams but with no response. We are like everyone else, we don’t know why she is arrested."
Earlier this month, the Saudi public prosecution office said the detentions were over "coordinating activities and organised action to compromise the security and stability of the Kingdom and its social peace and cohesion".
Following their arrest, state-backed newspapers published front-page pictures of some of the activists with the word "traitor" stamped across them in red.
Mr al-Hathloul, who speaks with his sister over the phone every week, said despite the public porsecution's statement that "every defendant, in this case, will have all their enjoy all rights given to them by Saudi law,” he said she has been denied the basic right of legal representation.
“She was not shown an indictment list, we don’t know what are the charges against her, they don’t even let us have a lawyer,” he said.
"We have tried in every possible way to defuse the situation with the authorities without taking the matter to the media, we tried for eight months but we didn’t get any response."
Ms al-Hathloul was previously held for more than 70 days in 2014 for attempting to drive from neighbouring United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammad bin Salman. Source: AAP
She was one of the activists who faced sexual harassment and torture during interrogation, her family and rights groups said.
“In December she was sent back to al-Hayer prison in the capital where she is now,” Mr al-Hathloul said.
“Me and my Sister Aliaa published some details of her torture in the , but to tell the full scale of this we need a whole book for all the horrible details.”
Three dozen countries, including all 28 EU members, have called on Saudi Arabia to release the activists.
It was unclear if the other detainees will also stand trial this week.
-With AFP
