By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – On February 4, Yara, an American businesswoman, was detained by members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, also known as Mutaween or Saudi Arabia’s religious police.  Yara moved to Yeddah, Saudi Arabia, eight years ago, with her husband, a prominent businessman.  She traveled to Riyadh on a routine business trip when the building’s electricity went out.  Yara and a male colleague, a Syrian financial analyst, went to a nearby Starbucks to continue the meeting.

Yara and her colleague were sitting in the “family” area of the café, the only area where men and women could sit together, when they were approached by members of the Mutaween.  Yara recalled that the men told her “You need to come with us. This man is not a relative.”  She was then taken to a GMC Suburban, where she had her phone confiscated and was questioned by the Mutaween.

Yara stated that after being forced to sign and fingerprint what she believed to be a confession, she was driven to the Malaz Prison, near Riyadh.  There, she said that she signed and fingerprinted another pre-written confession.  Afterwards, she was stripped searched and put into a cell with other women.  The confessions that Yara signed stated that she was in a state of khulwa, or seclusion with an unrelated man, which is illegal in Saudi Arabia.

When Yara’s husband, Hatim, learned of her detention, he immediately traveled to Riyadh.  There, he spoke with the authorities and Yara was released.  Yara’s colleague was also detained by the Mutaween and was released on February 5.

For more information, please see:
The Times (London) – Religious Police in Saudi Arabia Arrest Mother for Sitting with Man – 7 February 2008

Arab News – Brewing Support for “Coffee” Victim – 6 February 2008

AFP – Saudi Woman’s Café Plight Highlights Rights Problems – 5 February 2008

Arab News – Coffee with Colleague Lands Woman in Trouble – 5 February 2008