Gulf rights groups blast abuse of women activists

A number of Gulf-based rights groups and activists on Monday strongly condemned Gulf monarchies over mistreatment of women activists that included sexual harassment, torture, illegal detention and other abuses.

A statement, signed by 50 Gulf rights groups and activists, said that women activists have been targeted in most of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, especially after the start of the Arab Spring uprisings.

In Bahrain, female activists have been subjected to “sexual harassment and threatened with rape besides verbal and physical abuse” after they were held for participating in peaceful protests, the statement said.

It cited the case of female activist Rehana al-Mussawi, who claimed that she was stripped naked during interrogation while in detention a few days ago.

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