Shaima Albugamy disappeared in Saudi Arabia since April 2022

Shaima Albugamy disappeared in Saudi Arabia since April 2022

Shaima Albugamy is a Saudi national who was forcibly disappeared in April 2022. Prior to her disappearance, Albugamy ran away from her family home as a result of the continued physical and psychological abuse to which she had been subjected.

Shaima Albugamy is a Saudi national who ran away from her family house, located in the village of Turbah in the province of Makkah, on October 21, 2021. Albugamy was being abused by her father and brothers, and for multiple years, was subjected to physical violence. Her family also prevented her from going to school on different occasions, often forcibly confining her to the family house. She submitted multiple complaints to the authorities about this matter, but to no avail.

Albugamy’s father is a former member of the armed forces (Military Religious Affairs Department) and a former member of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Religious Police). As a result of continued physical and psychological abuses, Albugamy ran away from home in October 2021.

Persons associated with Albugamy later learned that her family reported her to State Security forces after she ran away, which is likely to have led to her disappearance in April 2022.

Upon running away in October 2021, Albugamy relocated to another city in Saudi Arabia. She was in contact with several individuals until all communication with them stopped following her disappearance in April 2022. In light of the family reporting Albugamy to the State Security forces, it is suspected that the Presidency of State Security (SSP) is responsible for Albugamy’s arrest and forcible disappearance.

On July 4, 2022, MENA Rights Group requested the urgent intervention of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

On November 11, 2022 the UN WGEID informed MENA Rights Group of Saudi Arabia’s response to its request for clarification. The authorities stated that Albugamy is being held at the Dhahban General Directorate of Investigation (Mabahith) prison in Jeddah and that her case remains under investigation. They further maintained that Albugamy was arrested “pursuant to an arrest warrant issued against her by  the competent authority in accordance with article 5 of the Terrorism  and Financing of Terrorism Act, and detained in accordance with articles  2 and 19. ”  

The Saudi authorities did not disclose any information relating to the charges that Albugamy is facing, nor did they provide justification for keeping her detained beyond the first seven days, as required by article 5 of the Law. They also failed to disclose any justification for, or provide any documentation  of, the Public Prosecution's order to extend the period of detention beyond the maximum amount set out by article 5 and 19 of the Law.

 

Timeline

November 11, 2022: The UN WGEID informs MENA Rights Group of the Saudi authorities’ response to its request for clarification, in which the authorities maintain that Albugamy is being held at Dhahban prison.
July 4, 2022: MENA Rights Group requests the urgent intervention of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID).
April 2022: Albugamy is forcibly disappeared.
October 21, 2021: Albugamy runs away from her family home to escape her family’s abuses. Persons associated with Albugamy later learn that her family reported her to State Security forces after she ran away.

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