Letter from their Mom " Alanoud Alfayez" 

Years have gone by, and my four daughters, Sahar, Maha, Hala, & Jawaher are still held against their will, confined in heavily guarded villas, suffering psychological and physical abuse. with no hope for salvation. They've been held captive in Saudi Arabia for more than 12 years by their father King Abdullah and their half-brothers Minister of the Saudi National Guard Mitab and Deputy Foreign Minister AbdulAziz, while all their half-sisters and half- brothers enjoy their rights and unfettered freedom. The anguish of a mother having to hear her own children suffering in agony day after day, without being able to be with them nor ease their suffering is far too great to bear. What crimes have my daughters committed to deserve torture and abuse? Does anyone deserve to live under such horrid circumstances? They have been robbed of their right to study, to work, to start a family, to travel and visit me. They have been deliberately denied medical attention; and the opportunity-- provided to all the King's sons and daughters-- to seek medical help anywhere in the world in any medical center they choose. They have been abused and tortured, and placed under 24/7 surveillance. Why are their half-sisters and female cousins allowed the freedom to lead their lives as they please without constraint, while many have chosen to reside in the West, without facing so much as an outcry from the family? Why are my daughters being discriminated against? Is it because they have no full brother to fend for them in a patriarchal society that is often described as misogynist. My daughters seek their dignity, freedom and human rights, and that of all women in their country.

My daughters deserve to be free to pursue their life. They deserve to continue their studies, earn a degree and continue higher education, and apply to the jobs that fulfill their dreams. They deserve to start a family, marry and have children. They deserve to be free to travel and visit me, their mother, whenever they wish. It is unacceptable to allow Saudi Arabia to continue abusing human rights, violating all conventions it had signed with the UN without being held to account. It is no longer acceptable for the free world, which claims to advocate human rights, to continue supporting countries that violate these. Saudi Arabia has one of the worst records in violating women's rights in particular. Many women endure the abuse of male guardians, while countless women and children suffer silently, very few have had the chance to speak out about their traumatic experience let alone escape from it. The situation is spiraling out of control and it is no longer tolerable for the world, especially the United Nations not to intervene and put a stop to these barbaric practices, which are unlawful, and un-Islamic. Despite Saudi Arabia's claims it is not within Sharia to condone the abuse of women under any pretext. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has ratified CEDAW and other conventions against torture and should be held to account when it does not abide.

The president of the free world will be shortly paying a visit to Saudi Arabia. Mr. Obama has two lovely daughters Maliya and Sasha whom he clearly cares for and loves very much. In a speech promoting responsible

fatherhood, he stressed 'what we can do is send a clear message to our fathers that there is no excuse for failing to meet their obligations. What we can do is make it easier for fathers who make responsible choices and harder for those who avoid those choices.' Wise words all fathers must heed, especially when heading towards one of the most notorious countries known for its violations of women's rights in particular, and human rights in general. Can the President imagine a scenario where his two daughters are suffering under the inhumane conditions 'failing to meet his obligations'. If he cannot imagine it, then he cannot ignore King Adbdulah's excuses in meeting his obligations towards his own daughters. Nor can he ignore the role assigned to his sons Minister of Saudi National Guard Mitab and Deputy Foreign Minister AbdulAziz in enforcing my daughters' incarceration and abuse. Countless countries have been suffering sanctions for far less violations. It is time to face Saudi Arabia with its own responsibilities, pressure it and put a stop to its human rights violations. Mr. Obama should take this opportunity to address these grave violations committed against my daughters in particular with King Abdullah their father and his sons Mitab and AbdelAziz, and those endured by innumerable women and girls in Saudi Arabia. My daughters deserve their human rights and their freedom as do all women in Saudi Arabia.