WHRDs in the MENA region also face multiple and intersecting sources of psychological stress
that stem from both state repression and societal pressures. WHRDs often face serious
violence and threats from state institutions. Many faces arbitrary detention, degrading and ill
treatment during interrogations, torture, and sexual violence as political tools which inflict
direct and severe trauma. Several WHRDs told researchers at GCHR that state interrogators
often ask private questions of a sexual nature to intimidate women and deter them from
pursuing any activism.
A WHRD informed GCHR that her interrogator asked her if she was a virgin when she was
summoned to be investigated for posting online about women’s rights. Another Bahraini
WHRD was reportedly raped during the investigation that caused her to pass out from the
shock.
In general, Saudi WHRDs witnessed an unprecedented use of torture after being rounded up
in 2018 as clearly documented in the case of prominent woman human rights defender
Loujain Al-Hathloul:
“Loujain Al-Hathloul was subjected to sexual harassment unprecedented to me from what I’ve
witnessed,” the guard wrote. “They were relishing insulting her. They were mocking her that
she is liberated and would not mind the harassment such as sticking their hands into her
underwear or touching her thighs or spouting degrading words at her.”
Another WHRD faced a nightmare during which she lost consciousness and was subjected to
several torture sessions:
“In one of her torture sessions, [name of a WHRD withheld] lost consciousness and we were all
terrified. We feared that she had died and that we would bear responsibility because the
instructions were to not kill any of the detainees, men or women.”- Anonymous texts from
prison guards to a human rights organisation on the sexual abuse of women activists on Saudi
Arabia.
Similarly, in our survey, an Iraqi WHRD described being traumatised because she couldn’t
defend herself against an abusive prosecutor:
“I was subjected to ridicule and threats by an interrogator, he made me feel worthless and
[said] the only place that I belong is [serving in] the kitchen… At the time, I couldn’t respond,
and this incident continues to cause me distress... and I didn’t get any care for that.”
Physical violence in public spaces, especially while protesting, has caused many WHRDs to
suffer severe outcomes including being killed by security forces. Examples are many across the
MENA region, but the landmark case of Mahsa (Jina) Amini’s death in custody sparked a
nationwide uprising calling for “Women, Life, Freedom” in September 2022. Other women
remain imprisoned for long periods with the full toll of poor detention conditions severely
affecting their mental health and wellbeing.
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