US activist at ‘risk of death penalty’ in custody battle with Saudi father, rights group says

Bethany Alhaidari is facing a 24 October court date that will determine her future life with her eight-year-old daughter, Zaina. Human Rights Watch, which took the unusual step of submitted an amicus brief in the family dispute, has warned that the 36-year-old mother would face a “serious risk of corporal punishment, lengthy imprisonment, and the death penalty” if she were to return to Saudi Arabia to accompany her daughter, if the court ruled to send Zaina back.