In a concerning incident reported from north-west Saudi Arabia, a young woman wearing a black abaya was spotted precariously perched on a second-floor window ledge. A subsequent photograph showed her being safely escorted down by a group of men with the assistance of a crane. This episode offers a rare insight into the hidden struggles of countless girls and young women allegedly detained in secretive government-sanctioned facilities known as “Dar al-Reaya.”
These facilities, often termed as “care homes,” house women who have faced banishment by their families or husbands due to perceived disobedience, extramarital relations, or simply being absent from home. Reports suggest that these institutions serve as a means to “rehabilitate” women to facilitate their return to familial settings, although the conditions within are described as distressing and abusive.
Over recent months, the Guardian has collected accounts revealing the harsh realities inside these homes, where weekly floggings and forced religious indoctrination are reportedly commonplace. The atmosphere is described as isolating, with no contact allowed with the outside world. Some of the women confined in these institutions have even resorted to suicide or attempted suicide due to the unbearable conditions.
“Every girl growing up in Saudi knows about Dar al-Reaya and how awful it is. It’s like hell,” recounted a young Saudi woman who ultimately escaped to exile after being threatened with confinement in one of these facilities.
Maryam Aldossari, a Saudi activist currently residing in London, revealed that women remain in these institutions until they accept the imposed rules. Critics argue that while Saudi Arabia presents a reformed image globally, dissenting voices calling for women’s rights have been met with repression—including house arrest and imprisonment.
“It is a prison, not a care home, as they like to call it. They call each other by numbers. ‘Number 35, come here,’” stated Sarah Al-Yahia, a campaigner advocating for the abolition of these facilities.
Established in the 1960s, the Saudi government describes these homes as providing shelter for women accused of various offenses, with psychiatric support aimed at rehabilitating them. However, Al-Yahia challenged this narrative after speaking to numerous girls who endured humiliating experiences, including strip searches and virginity tests upon entry.
She further detailed the dire conditions within, emphasizing the punitive measures against non-compliance with strict religious mandates—punishments that include public lashings where guards observe. Allegations of abuse, such as coerced sedations, were echoed by survivors who managed to escape their circumstances.
Young women frequently face an unsettling choice between the oppressive environment of a care home and enduring abuse at home. Amina*, 25 years old, found herself in such a predicament after fleeing physical violence from her father. Unfortunately, her experiences in the care home were marked by neglect from unsympathetic staff.
After returning home, Amina faced renewed abuse, which ultimately propelled her to seek refuge abroad. “I remember feeling utterly alone and terrified,” she reflected, describing her experience in evocative terms of entrapment.
Younger girls are indoctrinated with fear of Dar al-Reaya from an early age. Shams*, recalling her education, shared a story from a fellow student who suffered severe consequences for engaging in a relationship outside marriage: “She told us, if a woman has sex or a relationship she becomes a ‘cheap woman’.”
Another survivor, Layla*, faced confinement after reporting her family’s abuse to the police. Released back into her alleged abuser’s care, her story reveals the system’s failings to protect women facing domestic violence.
A Saudi women’s rights activist, preferring anonymity, lamented, “These women have no one. They could be abandoned for years, even without committing a crime.” The path to liberation for many of these women is obscured, often reliant on the approval of a male guardian or, tragically, through extreme measures such as attempted escape.
Fawzia al-Otaibi, an activist in exile since 2022, noted that many in Saudi society believe women deserve to be punished in these homes, underscoring the stigma surrounding victims of abuse. “No one dares tweet or speak about these places,” Otaibi added, highlighting the deep-seated fear permeating discussions of these issues.
Advocates argue that if the Saudi government were genuinely invested in women’s rights, substantial reforms would occur within these institutions, transitioning from punitive facilities to genuine safe havens for abuse survivors. “Many live under strict restrictions and suffer abuse silently,” asserted a Saudi activist in exile, pressing for change.
According to the human rights organization ALQST, the Dar al-Reaya facilities serve as instruments for enforcing rigid gender norms in stark contrast to the Saudi government’s claim of advancing women’s empowerment. Nadyeen Abdulaziz, a campaign officer, stipulated that abolishing these institutions is crucial if the government truly wishes to support women’s rights.
In response to criticism, a Saudi spokesperson maintained that there are specialized networks providing support for vulnerable populations, including women facing domestic violence. They denied allegations of mistreatment or coercion, asserting that women have the freedom to leave for educational or personal reasons without needing permission from a guardian or family member.
*Names have been changed to protect the identities of the individuals involved.
