Two women in Saudi Arabia. (Credit: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP Archives)
While their existence has long been known, testimonies about Saudi Arabia’s Dar al-Reaya institutions remain rare. English daily The Guardian recently spoke with several women, under the condition of anonymity, who recounted their experiences in these government-run centers.Literally translated as "care homes," Dar al-Reaya centers were established in 1960 and are operated by the Saudi state. Though presented as social protection facilities, they function as detention centers for women and girls deemed "disobedient" or delinquent.Testifying under a pseudonym, a woman identified as Shams told the British newspaper that Saudi women grow up fearing Dar al-Reaya. At 16, she recalled a visitor at her school who had been sent to one of the centers after becoming pregnant out of wedlock. Her father refused to allow her to...
While their existence has long been known, testimonies about Saudi Arabia’s Dar al-Reaya institutions remain rare. English daily The Guardian recently spoke with several women, under the condition of anonymity, who recounted their experiences in these government-run centers.Literally translated as "care homes," Dar al-Reaya centers were established in 1960 and are operated by the Saudi state. Though presented as social protection facilities, they function as detention centers for women and girls deemed "disobedient" or delinquent.Testifying under a pseudonym, a woman identified as Shams told the British newspaper that Saudi women grow up fearing Dar al-Reaya. At 16, she recalled a visitor at her school who had been sent to one of the centers after becoming pregnant out of wedlock. Her father refused to allow her...