How Two Sisters Pulled Off a Daring Escape From Saudi Arabia

Over a period of two months in 2019, VICE News follows two Saudi sisters who escaped from their family and are struggling to break free from their old lives, once dictated by Saudi Arabia's oppressive guardianship laws. WATCH NEXT: China’s Vanishing Muslims: Undercover In The Most Dystopian Place In The World - https://youtu.be/v7AYyUqrMuQ

Abusive people will always use this statement"it is a family matter"

The fact that a "friend" snitched on them, are you serious what an awful human being.

i live in saudi and im gonna say one thing " every single thing the father said is a lie "

The fear they felt while they were on the run disturbed me to the core. I was in their situation with my husband here in Ireland. He abused me emotionally and cheated repeatedly and was addicted to weed. When I called the guards on him during one of his psychotic episodes they advised me to go to women refuge. He went nuts and called all my family members back home and trashed my reputation. He said stuff that could get me killed if I go home. He also didn't stop sending threats to me and I felt very shaken and petrified. I can't be thankful enough for the support I had in Ireland. The refuge, the therapist and psychiatrist all rushed to help me without any payments. I finally made peace with my family after a while when they realized how of a lier my husband is. But the fear I felt and the emotional damage is unforgivable.

it's sad when a stranger is more of a father than your biological one.

The physical and emotional abuse is so normalized that the parents were actually shocked when they had enough! Because in their mind what they did wasn’t wrong. That’s how normalized it is.

That "I look so good" (10:30) made me so happy. She's happy with her haircut, happy with showing herself to the world, and proud of who she is and where she's at in life. She's so strong

Props to the Turkish police for telling the girls to change locations and to be cautious because the Saudis are bribing officials.

I work here in Saudi Arabia as a housemaid. I can say that my Employer's daughters are very lucky to have an open minded parents. My male boss even sent his daughter to Ireland to study English language.

For those wondering about their safety, Toby their lawyer has put out an twitter statement that they are both currently still safe on the 8th of June

I have suffered my entire life, have always been poor and still am. Grew up on a council estate and my dad was a coal miner but compared to these brave girls and others like them I am blessed. Blessed with freedom. To any Saudi girls going through this right now - A Yorkshireman sends you all his luck.

Apologists love to say "it's their culture." If your culture or your interpretation of your religion requires you to imprison half the population in black bags, you aught to abandon it.

That lawyer is such a good human. The tears in his eyes when he realises they are safe broke me. I wish there were more people like him.

When the Turkish photographer learned that they are Saudis his heart missed a beat 😂😂😂

Born in Asia and raised in a strict islamic household as a Muslim. In Islam, men's superiority is undeniable.. Because of my hatred for males, I grew up to be a very angry, rebellious adolescent and a sad adult. At one time in my life, I desired to become a man myself because I did not want to be a second-class human being. This teaching can really messed up a person psychologically.

These two women are incredibly brave... going against everything they know and leaving their comfort behind for a chance at a new life. Wishing them nothing but the best 🥺

That guy worries like its his own kids. The world needs more people like u. Imagine the world filled with caring people. Just imagine 🤔❤️

For me as an Iranian who has lived in the Middle East, I can assure you that this stuff genuinely does happen. Some people think it is wrong. Others do not.

I’m a gay male and I have a friend who loves in Iraq and he is gay. He lives in constant fear of being murdered. It’s very sad. Middle Eastern countries are terrible when you are gay. And when you are a woman. 😢