UN HUMAN rights officials issued a warning today over the cases of a dozen women’s rights activists arrested by the Saudi authorities.

More than 13 people, most of them women, have been nabbed since May 15, though four of them were reported to have been released.

The UN said that “the allegations against the remaining six women and three men known to have been taken into custody appear to be very serious and could lead to draconian sentences.” Saudi Arabia’s Okaz newspaper said they could face the death penalty.