Four inmates and several staff were injured when a riot broke out at a women's prison in the holy city of Mecca last Friday. Predictably, the head of social affairs in Mecca described it as a “mutiny” and threatened harsh action against the instigators.

A few years ago, that would probably have been the last anyone heard of the matter. But Saudi Arabia is changing, as was seen last month by the public outcry over the authorities' mishandling of the Jeddah floods. When things go wrong, Saudis are beginning to demand accountability.

No fewer than four government departments are now investigating the background to the prison riot, the kingdom’s National Society of Human Rights has become involved, and the Saudi Gazette has kept up a barrage of reports on the affair for three days running (here, here and here). The paper even has quotes from some of the inmates:

They said that they had no choice but to protest because of the alleged abuse they suffered at the hands of the guards and prison officials.

From inside the facility, the women talked about their ordeal. 
They said they were beaten up, often went hungry and had to bear the agony of solitary confinement.

They said that most of them suffered from psychiatric illnesses and were under treatment at psychiatric clinics in Makkah. Others were under observation because of the alleged maltreatment.

The female inmates said that they were happy that the riots took place because it revealed what was hidden from the media and society.

It appears that the social affairs ministry failed to act upon recommendations made two years ago for improving services at the prison, which houses 65 women and is politely known as a "correctional facility".

The Saudi Gazette also alleges an attempted cover-up following the riot, with the hiding of prison files and the sudden transfer of several prisoners.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 20 January 2010.