On 1 December 2014, Loujain al-Hathloul was arrested and detained for 73 days following an attempt to cross the border from the United Arab Emirates into Saudi Arabia while driving a car. This event marked a central moment in her sustained campaign against the female driving ban and the broader male guardianship system in her home country.
Early Education and Activism
Born in 1989 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, al-Hathloul pursued higher education at the University of British Columbia and the Sorbonne. She emerged as a prominent human rights defender, utilizing social media to challenge Saudi legal structures. In 2015, she attempted to stand in Saudi local elections, representing one of the first voting opportunities for women in the kingdom, but she was barred from participating. By September 2016, she joined a massive petition signed by 14,000 individuals calling on King Salman to abolish the male guardianship system.
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In 2017, al-Hathloul became a target of Project Raven, a clandestine operation involving U.S. mercenaries that categorized her as a national security threat. Her digital privacy was compromised through the hacking of her iPhone. On 4 June 2017, she was arrested at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Although no official charge was disclosed at the time, she was denied legal representation and contact with her family.
Systematic Repression
In May 2018, al-Hathloul was seized in the United Arab Emirates and forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia. During her subsequent imprisonment, she was held in locations including Dhahban Central Prison and al-Ha'ir prison. Family members reported that she endured physical abuse between May and August 2018, including electric shocks, waterboarding, and threats of violence. She later engaged in multiple hunger strikes to secure the right to communicate with her parents.
Release and Ongoing Status
Following international pressure, including calls for her release from 30 countries and the European Parliament, al-Hathloul was transferred to a special court in late 2020. She was released from prison on 10 February 2021. As of July 2025, she remains subject to a de facto travel ban.
Fast facts
- Born: 1989, Jeddah
- Citizenship: Saudi Arabia
- Educated at: University of British Columbia, Sorbonne
- Languages: Arabic, English, French
- Awards: 2020 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
- Awards: 2020 Bertha and Carl Benz Prize
- Awards: 2020 Prix Liberté
- Awards: 2017 BBC 100 Women
Questions readers ask
Was she involved in the Women to Drive Movement?
Yes, she gained recognition for her role in the campaign to lift the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia.
What is her current travel status?
As of July 2025, she is subject to a de facto travel ban within Saudi Arabia.
Achievements
- Bertha and Carl Benz Prize — 2020
- Václav Havel Human Rights Prize — 2020
- Educated at University of British Columbia and Sorbonne
