The United Nations confirms it is investigating claims that several Saudi Arabian princesses are being held against their will in a royal compound in Jeddah. 

The United Nations and The Sunday Times of London both received an email appealing for help from 42-year old Sahar and 38-year old Jawaher, who’ve been locked up in the castle for 13-years on orders of their father King Abdullah.  Their sisters 41-year old Maha and 39-year old Hala are also being held, but in a separate area of the compound. 

“We slowly watch each other fading away into nothingness,” the email said, adding that their sister Hala had told them “that her mind is slipping away”, and that “the life is being sucked out of her.” Apparently, the only time they’re ever allowed to leave the palace is to go for groceries, under the supervision of a half-brother.

Their mother is Alanoud Alfayez, who became one of King Abdullah’s wives at 15 years old.  They divorced when she was in her forties and she lives in exile in London.  The imprisoned princesses are four among 38 children of Abdullah.

Xabier Celaya of the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says that officials are “not in a position to confirm if any action has been taken on this case”, and added that it could be several months at least before anything is officially published about the case.