RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has arrested at least three more women’s rights activists in a widening crackdown just weeks before a ban on women driving is set to end, international rights watchdogs said on Tuesday.

Rights groups last week reported the detention of seven activists, mostly women who previously campaigned for the right to drive and an end to the kingdom’s male guardianship system, which requires women to obtain the consent of a male relative for major decisions.

Official criticism by foreign governments, though, has been scant. Crown Pri­n­ce Mohammed bin Salman has courted Western allies to support his reforms. Hund­reds of billions of dollars of investments were discussed during his recent trips to the United States and Europe.

Amnesty International said that seven women and two men were now being held, in addition to “one unidentified activist”. Human Rights Watch confirmed that total.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2018