Saudi Arabia’s Dar al-Reaya, a network of care homes established in the 1960s, has come under intense scrutiny for its treatment of women and girls accused or convicted of various crimes. The government likes to call these facilities shelters and rehabilitation centers. Yet, they continue to operate under a veil of secrecy that poses grave risks for human rights abuses.
The main focus of Dar al-Reaya is to re-integrate female inmates back to their families post “rehabilitation.” According to reports, the treatment of people inside these homes is shockingly severe. Upon landing, most girls and women undergo humiliating, violent strip searches and virginity examinations. Activists have rightfully pointed out that these practices are humiliating and abusive.
Inside Dar al-Reaya, inmates are often sedated to help them sleep. This practice has earned widespread condemnation from human rights advocates. The atmosphere has been called “hellish,” and floggings allegedly used as punishment on a weekly basis have been documented. Inmates are isolated and deprived of visits and regular contact with the outside world. This denial of contact causes extreme loneliness and hopelessness.
Amina, a 25-year-old female, heroically found shelter in Buraydah’s Dar al-Reaya institution. She fled home after suffering years of abuse from her father. Her story highlights the complicated dynamics of seeking safety within an institution that many view as punitive rather than rehabilitative.
Even though the government claims that conditions in Dar al-Reaya are civilized, accounts from former detainees and activists paint a different picture. Sarah Al-Yahia, a popular activist, just this month started a national campaign to close these facilities down. It was supposed to be a care home, she states, when what it actually is, is a prison.
“It is a prison, not a care home, as they like to call it. They call each other by numbers. ‘Number 35, come here.’ When one of the girls shared her family name, she got lashes,” – Sarah Al-Yahia
This callous treatment of women only adds to the cycles of violence and trauma they may experience. Thousands of other adolescent females serve in permanent detention without the consent of their families or male sponsors. In other cases, they could be kept in jail for years just to serve an institution’s procedures.
Maryam Aldossari, another advocate for reform, noted that “a young girl or woman will stay in there for as long as it takes for her to accept the rules.” This shows us that the goal is not rehabilitation at all, but simply submission to a white supremacist behavioral standard.
Activists have been raising alarms for years about the gap in safe housing options for women leaving abusive relationships. They ask that the Saudi regime make a real commitment to women’s rights progress. They feel this commitment necessitates making the reform of Dar al-Reaya a top priority and creating safe havens for those who need them.
“These women have no one. They could be abandoned for years, even without committing a crime,” – Saudi Women’s Rights Activist
Fawzia al-Otaibi, a former inmate, underscored the societal stigma accompanying these institutions.
“No one dares tweet or speak about these places. No one will ask about you when you go there. They make the victims feel ashamed,” – Fawzia al-Otaibi
The conditions within Dar al-Reaya have led to instances of suicide and attempted suicide among inmates who feel trapped and hopeless. One young woman remembered her fear when she found out she’d be sent to a place like that.
“Every girl growing up in Saudi knows about Dar al-Reaya and how awful it is. It’s like hell. I tried to end my life when I found out I was going to be taken to one,” – Young Saudi Woman
Insan’s Al-Yahia made a key observation. Most women who end up in these institutions didn’t go there because they made a choice to, rather they were pushed due to family problems or social conflict. She noticed that the women who had experienced sexual violence were more likely to be jailed. They suffer in silence to protect their family’s honor rather than reaching out for the help they urgently need.
“If you are sexually abused or get pregnant by your brother or father you are the one sent to Dar al-Reaya to protect the family’s reputation,” – Sarah Al-Yahia
These practices have much larger implications than the individual lived experience. They expose systemic problems of gender discrimination and abuse entrenched within Saudi society. Advocacy groups have sounded the alarm about how the state allows these enterprises to operate without oversight.
“But many live under strict restrictions and suffer abuse silently. The state supports this abuse with these institutions. They only exist to discriminate against women,” – Saudi Activist
Critics of Dar al-Reaya contend that the only way out is sometimes through a male guardian or marriage. This perspective deepens the cycle of dependency and undermines individual agency.
“The only way out is through a male guardian, marriage or jumping off the building,” – Saudi Women’s Rights Activist
For millions of inmates, the future looks just as hopeless. This glaring failure has led women’s rights organizations to call for immediate systemic reforms at these facilities. Their conviction is that genuine change will occur only when women have access to true networks of support. These systems need to honor their agency and humanity.
We commend the Saudi government for taking the initiative to address the charges concerning Dar al-Reaya. They stress that all allegations of abuse are treated seriously and investigated immediately and completely. A government spokesperson reiterated that these are not detention centers and that women can exit at any time.
“These are not detention centres, and any allegation of abuse is taken seriously and subject to thorough investigation … Women are free to leave at any time,” – Saudi Government Spokesperson
Activists and former residents continue to express doubt even with such public promises. They are the ones who truly understand what living under these walls is like. They contend that the changes, both big and small, are desperately needed. Otherwise, Dar al-Reaya will become a prison rather than a refuge for vulnerable women.