My sister Loujain has been enduring torture in a Saudi prison for almost two years now. Can you help free her by pushing your Senators to co-sponsor the congressional resolution?

Dear John,

It’s been almost two years now that my sister, Loujain al-Hathloul, has been sitting in a prison cell in Saudi Arabia. I worry about her every day, especially as they are subjecting her to terrible torture: beatings, electroshock, waterboarding, sexual harassment, and more.

I am appealing to you to help me get more Senators to co-sponsor the resolution in Congress calling for all Saudi women’s rights activists, including my sister, to be released. So far less than 20 Senators have added their names, after a short meeting with CODEPINK in December — NY’s Kirsten Gillibrand — added her name right away. Send a message now to your Senators asking them to join Gillibrand, then plan a meeting at their district office closest to you so that you can appeal to them in person.

I am appealing to you to help me get more Senators to co-sponsor the resolution in Congress calling for all Saudi women’s rights activists, including my sister, to be released. So far less than 20 Senators have added their names, but two weeks ago after a short meeting with CODEPINK’s Enas Alsaffadi, another lawmaker — NY’s Kirsten Gillibrand — added her name. Send a message now to your Senators asking them to join Gillibrand then plan a meeting at your Senator’s closest district office and appeal to them in person. CODEPINK has materials and other support for you to use.

Senate Resolution 73 calls on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to immediately release Saudi Women’s Rights activists and respect the fundamental human rights of all Saudi citizens which are protected under international law, acknowledges that the Saudi government is using torture against women’s rights activists and calls for an investigation to hold perpetrators accountable, and reaffirms that the global recognition and protection of basic human rights, including women’s rights, is in the national security interest of the United States.

S.Res.73 specifically mentions imprisoned women’s rights activists Samar Badawi, who petitioned Saudi authorities to allow women the right to drive, vote, and run in municipal elections; Nouf Abdelaziz; Mayaa al-Zahrani; Nassima al-Sadah, who campaigned for the right to drive and against the government’s male guardianship laws; Hatoon al-Fassi, a professor of women’s history who was one of the first Saudi women to acquire a driver’s license; and my sister Loujain al-Hathloul, who was last arrested in May 2018 and charged with attempting to destabilize the kingdom for the “crime” of asserting that women are equal and asking for women’s rights. In August 2019, Saudi Arabia offered to release to Loujain on the condition that she make a video statement claiming that she had not been tortured, but she refused.

As a bi-partisan resolution introduced by Ben Cardin and Marco Rubio, it’s a no-brainer that all Senators should add their names. But so far only Senators. Cardin, Moran, Durbin, Sasse, Kaine, Collins, Coons, Booker, Merkley, Murphy, Shaheen, Markey, Van Hollen, Casey, Blumenthal, Warren, and Gillibrand have done so. Send a message now to your Senators asking them to take action calling for my sister to be released and then arrange a meeting in their closest district office during this winter congressional recess. CODEPINK has materials and other support for you.

Please take action to help get my sister out of Saudi prison.

Sincerely,
Lina al-Hathloul