Inside Saudi Arabia’s Secretive ‘Care Homes’ for Disobedient Women: A Human Rights Crisis
In Saudi Arabia, institutions known as Dar al-Reaya—officially labeled “care homes”—are being increasingly scrutinized for what activists and former detainees describe as deeply abusive conditions. While the kingdom promotes itself globally as a modernized nation advancing women’s rights, a shadow system of state-controlled “rehabilitation” centers tells a much darker story.
What Are Dar al-Reaya Facilities?
Founded in the 1960s, Dar al-Reaya centers were originally presented as shelters for young women accused of moral or legal transgressions. According to Saudi officials, these facilities provide psychological support and vocational rehabilitation to help women return to family life. However, testimonies from former inmates and human rights advocates paint a vastly different picture.
These “care homes” are often described as covert detention centers, holding women for acts such as disobedience, fleeing abuse, extramarital relationships, or even public activism. Women may be detained indefinitely—without trial and without the ability to leave without male guardian approval.
Conditions Inside the ‘Rehabilitation Prisons’
Multiple sources reveal harrowing conditions inside these institutions. Reports mention:
- Routine flogging and public beatings
- Enforced religious indoctrination
- Lack of communication with the outside world
- Strip searches and virginity testing upon entry
- Forced sedation and solitary confinement
Inmates, referred to by numbers instead of names, are subjected to extreme surveillance and denied basic autonomy. Women can be punished for minor infractions such as failing to pray, expressing sexual identity, or disclosing personal information. The psychological toll is immense, with several reported instances of suicide or suicide attempts.
Who Ends Up in Dar al-Reaya?
Many young women find themselves in these institutions after clashing with male guardians—fathers, brothers, or husbands—over issues such as forced marriage, domestic violence, or even social media use. Victims of abuse who seek help can be criminalized for “absenteeism” or “moral deviance.”
One survivor recounted being forced to sign an agreement with her father—her alleged abuser—before being allowed to leave. Another described how schoolgirls were warned of the fate awaiting them if they defied family expectations. “Every girl grows up fearing Dar al-Reaya,” said one woman who later fled the country.
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| A woman stands on window ledge, allegedly trying to escape one of Saudi Arabia ‘care homes’ and is then apparently helped down by a group of men. |
Social Control Disguised as Protection
Activists argue that these facilities are less about protection and more about maintaining patriarchal control. According to Sarah Al-Yahia, a Saudi campaigner in exile, the homes function as “prisons” for women who challenge social norms. The institutions serve to reinforce the male guardianship system by giving male relatives the ultimate say over a woman’s freedom.
Even women who help victims of domestic violence risk punishment. Sheltering a woman escaping abuse can be treated as a criminal offense in Saudi Arabia.
International Concern and Human Rights Advocacy
Organizations like ALQST for Human Rights describe Dar al-Reaya as tools of gender-based oppression, directly contradicting the government’s international narrative of reform. The organization calls for their immediate closure and replacement with genuine shelters that prioritize women’s safety and rights.
Saudi authorities, however, reject allegations of mistreatment. In an official statement, they claimed that women are free to leave these centers at any time and that all abuse reports are taken seriously and investigated. However, advocates and former inmates strongly dispute these assertions, emphasizing that male guardian approval is often required and that social stigma prevents many from seeking help.
A Call for Genuine Reform
While Saudi Arabia enjoys global attention through hosting major events like the FIFA World Cup, many inside and outside the kingdom argue that symbolic reforms mask ongoing systemic abuse. Activists urge the Saudi government to:
- Abolish Dar al-Reaya centers
- Dismantle the male guardianship system
- Create safe and independent shelters for women
- Decriminalize “absenteeism” and other vague morality-based charges
Conclusion
The existence and operation of Dar al-Reaya institutions reveal a stark contradiction between Saudi Arabia’s global branding and its internal treatment of women. For a society to genuinely empower women, it must first eliminate structures that criminalize autonomy and silence abuse victims. Until then, these so-called care homes remain emblematic of a much deeper issue: the systemic denial of basic rights for women and girls in Saudi Arabia.