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Saudi King Salman (r) with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Photo: BANDAR ALJALOUD HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX
Basma bint Saud, a niece of King Salamn of Saudi Arabia, was imprisoned for almost three years without charge.
Now her lawyer reports evidence of mistreatment of the 58-year-old during her time in prison.
In a video conversation with her, however, he held back on this topic because she was still being monitored, Henri Estramant explained in an interview with RTL / ntv.
The state of health of the princess had "deteriorated dramatically" in detention, he said.
She had lost ten kilograms in weight and was "almost unrecognizable" in the video conversation.
Basma bint Saud was released along with her daughter about a month ago.
Security forces arrested the two in March 2019.
According to Estramant, the accusation was that they wanted to “leave the country illegally”.
Locked up in the country
Estramant explained that the princess could move freely in the country but not leave the country.
She wanted to go to Switzerland for treatment.
"She has now gone to the king and asked for special permission," he said.
"She would even be willing to accept that she would be accompanied by security guards from Saudi Arabia if there was a suspicion of an escape." According to the lawyer, the princess suffers from a chronic intestinal disease.
Basma bint Saud has advocated reforms in Saudi Arabia in the past.
She denounced power structures and the lack of women's rights, but also declared that she was behind the royal family.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia – under the leadership of the powerful Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman – has expanded women's rights, among other things.
At the same time, the ruling family has been criticized for human rights violations.
Numerous activists, human rights activists and intellectuals are still in prison.
mrc/dpa