Outcry as Saudi actress proposes using prisoners for medical testing

Cairo: Saudi actress Maram Abdul Aziz has sparked an outcry after she proposed using prisoners "instead of rats and monkeys" for testing new medicines.

"If it were up to me, I would not just imprison and waste food, drinking and rehabilitation for those arrested especially in cases related to security," the 35-year-old said in a tweet. "I would turn them into a testing field for new medications even if the results were not guaranteed to punish them. Thus, the country would benefit from them. They should be used for testing instead of rats and monkeys that have done no harm to us," she added.

The tweet brought Maram accusations of inhumanity and instigation of violence and hatred.

One detractor compared her to Adolf Hitler and called for holding her to account over the proposal. Another accused her of seeking fame. Others suggested she undergo medical testing instead.

In response to the scathing criticism, the actress said she has asked that all her body organs be donated after her death.

"As for clinical tests, they require healthy people. This doesn't apply to me," she said in a new tweet without elaborating.

Her donation announcement has not mitigated the backlash against her.

"Pardon me! When you understand what humanity means, then donate what you want!" commented a woman named Raghda. "Thank you corona and social media for having exposed humankind and unmasked their ugliness!" added the commentator, referring to the Covid-19 pandemic.

There has been no official comment on the uproar.