A Cry for Help

Photo courtesy of the Associate Press

Dina Ali Lasloom cry for help after she was stopped in the Philippines Airport on her way to Australia to seek asylum caused an uproar on social media and has brought to light the plight of women runaways.

Lasloom was trying to escape from Saudi Arabia where they are almost always trying to escape from their male relatives.

Saudi women are banned from leaving the country, obtaining a passport or marrying without the consent of a male relative. This is all due to Saudi Arabia's interpretation of Islamic Law.

While at the airport in Manila International Airport, Lasloom said that her passport was taken by officials and her passport was being held by the request of Saudi diplomats until male relatives arrive to take her back.

While being held Lasloom recorded a video on her phone where she expressed her fears of what would happen if her family came to get her.

"If my family come, they will kill me. If I go back to Saudi Arabia, I will be dead. Please help me," Lasloom said in the video. 

According to women's rights activist, Lasloom was forced to board a plane to go back while she was escorted by two uncles that flew in from Riyadh. 

This issue of women essentially being imprisoned in their own country is a big problem that activist are trying to fix. 

Moudi Aljohani, who spoke to Lasloom at Manila airport, and also escaped the kingdom says that these women just want to be free. 

Aljohani studied abroad in Miami, and after visiting her family was confined for up to eight months. 

A Human's Right Watch report on the guadrian ship laws in Saudi Arabia, found that a woman's life dpends on the "good will" of her husband. 

https://www.apnews.com/ea1899c217794a6385e53a9cc6739e2b/A-Saudi-woman's-plea-for-help-exposes-risks-runaways-face