Saudi Arabia's human rights record has come under intense scrutiny in recent months.

Earlier this year, the country detained dozens of prominent women's rights activists — most without access to communication and many who were never formally charged with a crime.

Award-winning campaigner Samar Badawi was arrested in August, which sparked a massive feud between Riyadh and Ottawa over the Kingdom's human rights record.

In October, journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by Saudi agents, possibly at the order of the Saudi crown prince, which thrust the country's human rights violations back into the spotlight.

In November, testimonies from detained human rights activists emerged detailing torture, interrogation, and sexual abuse at the hands of Saudi authorities in prison.

Saudi Arabia's human rights record has come under intense scrutiny in recent months — even before the murder of Jamal Khashoggi made international headlines.

Earlier this year, the country detained dozens of prominent women's rights activists — many without formal charge or access to communication — most of whom still remain in custody.

In May, at least 15 prominent women's rights activists had been arrested, many who had been actively involved in the women's right to drive movement.

Local media reported that nine of the activists were set to be tried at a criminal court that specifically deal with terrorism-related offenses. And Saudi state media was quick to brand the activists as "traitors," and accused them of forming a "cell" in conjunction with foreign agents, Amnesty International said.

—Nora Abdulkarim نورة الدعيجي (@Ana3rabeya) May 19, 2018

The government finally lifted the driving ban in June after decades of campaigning, though many of the activists still remain in prison.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been leading a push for modernization — cracking down hard on anyone that stands in his way.

Saudi Arabia Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is cracking down on his critics. Nicolas Asfouri - Pool/Getty Images

The crackdown on rights activists occurred at a time when the country was preparing to lift its ban on women drivers.

Critics of the driving ban say it was symbolic of Saudi Arabia's strong patriarchal society, an image which Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has eagerly been trying to shed since ascending to the throne and instating his ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 to completely overhaul the Saudi economy and society.

But along with his major push for modernization came ruthless intolerance towards anyone that stood in his way. The prince arrested hundreds of officials, billionaires, and members of the royal family in massive graft, netting him over $100 billion in settlements.

And human rights campaigners and dissidents continue to be targeted.

In August, award-winning human rights campaigner Samar Badawi — who is best known for challenging the country's restrictive male guardianship laws — was arrested along with several other activists.

Samar Badawi was presented with an International Women of Courage Award by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and first lady Michelle Obama. Badawi was reportedly arrested in August and remains in Saudi prison. Alex Wong/Getty Images

She had previously been detained for her advocacy and was banned from travel.

Badawi had been targeted by police in the past for her close ties to several prominent rights activists, including her former husband Waleed Abu al-Khair, a lawyer currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for defending human rights.

She is also the sister of Raif Badawi, a renowned Saudi blogger who gained international recognition after he was sentenced to public flogging and a 10-year prison sentence for his dissenting views.

Samar Badawi's arrest sparked a massive feud between Riyadh and Ottawa, and shined a spotlight on the Kingdom's human rights record once more.

In August, Canada's foreign ministry tweeted that it was "gravely concerned" about the new wave of arrests in the Kingdom targeting women's rights activists, which sparked outrage from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia quickly retaliated with a series of intensifying diplomatic measures, which have since simmered down.

But Saudi Arabia's human rights record was called into question once more following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

The fiance of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi posted a touching tribute for him on Twitter. Screenshot/Twitter/Hatice Cengiz

The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has thrust Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses back onto the global stage.

On October 2, the Washington Post contributor was murdered at the Saudi embassy in Istanbul after attempting to retrieve routine documents for his upcoming wedding to his Turkish fiance. His fiance waited outside for hours, but Khashoggi never left the embassy.

His body has not been recovered.

The country has repeatedly denied that the crown prince had any role in Khashoggi's death, though its version of the events surrounding Khashoggi's murder have shifted several times over the last several weeks, fueling suspicions. Recent CIA assessments have reportedly determined that the prince directly ordered the assassination, accusations the Kingdom has swiftly rejected.

Reports of torture in Saudi prisons have recently emerged

A Member of the Saudi special police unit stands guard during a military parade in Mecca on September 17, 2015, as more than one million faithful have already arrived in the Muslim holy city for the annual hajj pilgrimage which begins next week. MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH/AFP/Getty Images

On Tuesday, reports emerged detailing abuse inflicted on activists caught up in the crown prince's crackdown on dissent.

Amnesty International obtained three separate testimonies which reveal instances of sexual harassment, electrocution, and flogging while in detention at the country’s Dhahban Prison, where many human rights activists have been held for months. Some of the detainees were so badly harmed that they were left unable to walk or stand properly. Human Rights Watch also reported similar torture at the hands of Saudi authorities, including whipping and sexual assault.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump released a lengthy defense of Saudi Arabia, despite the country's mounting human rights abuses and unanswered questions surrounding Khashoggi's killing. Trump signaled he does not intend to call for significant changes to the US-Saudi relationship, despite global calls for sanctions against Saudi officials and those involved in the gruesome murder plot.

Still, it appears Trump is unwilling to press the Saudi leadership too hard; his businesses have made millions from the Saudi government, and the crown prince gave his New York City hotel a huge boost.

It is growing increasingly clear that slapping sanctions on Riyadh will be a difficult option for the Trump administration, given the size of the economic ties between Washington and Riyadh, though some experts speculate that Saudi Arabia may actually need the US more than ever.