Saudi Princess Basma publishes from Al-Hayer Prison a letter appealing to her uncle, the king

Princess Basma bint Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud appealed to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman to release her at the start of the month of Ramadan, noting that she needed treatment.

A close relative of the princess, who declined to be named, confirmed the authenticity of the letter Basma published on her website and her Facebook account.

"I am Basma Bint Saud, I appeal to you, my uncle, the Majestic King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God grant you long life, and the son of my uncle, His Royal Highness and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman - may God preserve you - as I mentioned earlier. It continues to deteriorate day after day, which may lead to my death. After the first appeal until now, I was not released, looking into my matter, or did not receive the appropriate treatment ... Please release me to recover my health in the blessed month of Ramadan with my family, since I haven't seen them for more than a year ".

The princess’s relative told Reuters that Basma, 56, a businesswoman, writer and human rights activist, was traveling for treatment abroad when she was arrested in February last year, and was informed that she was accused of attempting to forge a passport.

Without charges
, the source added that the charges against her were dropped, but she is still imprisoned in Al-Hayer prison with her daughter who was with her when she was arrested and recently informed herself that she has been held in Al-Hayer prison in Riyadh for more than a year and that she is sick.

Reuters said that the government media office did not respond to a written request from the agency to comment on the details of the princess's case.

There was no public comment from Saudi officials on the princess’s current appeal, nor the first appeal that she posted on her social media accounts last week.

The princess suffers from a series of health problems, including heart problems, osteoporosis and digestive problems, according to health records from 2016 and 2018. Her relative said she had not received enough medical care for several months.

Reasons for detention
The Princess's family indicated - in an appeal to the United Nations in March - that the reason for her detention "may be her role as a vocal critic of the violations in the country in which we were born, as well ... in order to inquire about the frozen wealth left by her father."

The princess was considered supportive of the former crown prince, Muhammad bin Nayef Al Saud, according to the opinion of her family.

A relative and an American lawyer told Basma that before her arrest, she had chartered a plane to take her to Switzerland via Turkey for treatment.

"It was realized too late that Turkey's presence in the travel plan made the situation difficult, and it might suggest that it was planning to escape," said the lawyer, who helped her arrange the trip.

Video footage of surveillance cameras - provided by a princess close to and watched by Reuters - showed seven men arriving at the princess’s residence near midnight on February 28, 2019. The footage has not yet been independently verified.

According to the assurances of a relative of Basma, the princess was skeptical, but she went with them, accompanied by her daughter, Sahoud Al-Sharif, 28, and the two women were transferred to prison.