Hidden Saudi Sisters Speak Out, Seek Safe Place

Two Saudi sisters who've spent almost six months hiding in Hong Kong have spoken out on their ordeal and made a plea for a third country willing to take them in.

The sisters, who used the pseudonyms Reem and Rawan and were aged 18 and 20 when they arrived in the city en route to Melbourne, say Saudi consulate officials tried to kidnap them to stop them from fleeing an abusive family.

"We have been hiding in Hong Kong since September 2018. We have moved location 13 times because we are scared of being located by Saudi officials. Every day we fear that we will be kidnapped," one of the girls said on the video.

"Events that took place in Turkey with [murdered Saudi journalist] Jamal Kashoggi only increased our fears, especially since the Saudi government than cancelled our passports and forced us to go into the consulate to get new ones.

"We want desperately to be settled in a third-country place of safety before the 28th of February, when our time in Hong Kong will expire."

The kingdom's consulate did not reply to repeated calls from RTHK on Friday.

The women, who say they have renounced Islam and fear being killed if they're returned to Saudi Arabia, say they cannot reveal their names and identity because it will put them in further danger.

They were on a family holiday in Sri Lanka and were planning to travel to Australia on a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong. They say they were stopped at the airport by consular officials from Saudi Arabia, who attempted to force them return to Riyadh.

Human rights lawyer Michael Vidler said he is very concerned about the sisters' safety, especially what happened to Kashoggi, who was murdered inside the Istanbul consulate of the kingdom.

He also said the stress of living in fear and moving from safe house to safe house is taking its toll on the duo.

The lawyer said everything the women have said so far stacks up. He said they have corroborated evidence and video footage at the airport confirms that their version of events are correct.

The police are investigating the case, and Vidler said it should be looked at very seriously.

"Prima facie, a criminal offence has taken place. So there should be a proper criminal investigation. There are other people involved who would not have diplomatic immunity who should also be under investigation," he said.

"Hong Kong jurisdiction has been violated and therefore Hong Kong should be dealing with it and looking into this very, very seriously," the lawyer said.

Vidler said the women are committed to remain in Hong Kong until Thursday next week, and are hoping a third country will step in to offer them asylum before that date.