Security sources revealed that the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) ordered the prison services to tighten restrictions imposed against prisoners of conscience during the holy month of Ramadan, including their right to perform collective prayers.
In protest, several female political prisoners launched an open-ended hunger strike in Saudi jails.
Salma Al-Shehab, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence, waged the hunger strike along with seven other detainees, in protest against their arbitrary detention.
A Twitter storm was launched under the hashtag #PrisonersStrike in support of the striking female prisoners and demanding their immediate release.
Salma Al-Shehab has been held in Saudi jails for 810 days for re-tweeting anti-regime posts.
Saudi authorities have been engaged in a severe crackdown on individuals who are perceived to be critics of the Saudi government, including hundreds of human rights advocates, female activists, and scholars, leading to serious international warnings over their fate.
According to the sources, the striking prisoners were denied any family contact to force them to suspend their hunger strike.
The sources further pointed out that more restrictions were imposed on the striking prisoners after gaining increasing support on social media.
The National Assembly Party expressed total support with the striking female prisoners and called on the Saudi authorities to respect their right to freedom of speech.
The party also stressed that freedom of speech is not a crime, warning of Saudi attempts to politicize the judiciary under the pretext of combating terrorism.
The National Assembly Party called on the Saudi authorities to release all prisoners of conscience, especially those on hunger strike.
Many Saudi political prisoners go on hunger strikes—individually or in groups—to denounce mistreatment or demand their basic rights.
Punitive actions are frequently taken against the striking prisoners.
They are denied access to family members, phone contact, and medical care, among other fundamental human rights. They are also kept in solitary confinement amid inhumane detention conditions, deepening their suffering.
