RIYADH, 23 May 2007 -- A detailed report by the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) on the state of human rights in Saudi Arabia has cited violations of the rights of women, prisoners and workers as well as injustice in law courts, discrimination against non-Saudis and forced confessions from those detained by the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The report also noted that domestic violence had reached an alarming level.

The 67-page report by the nongovernment body was released two days ago and is the first to be published by a human rights body in Saudi Arabia. It is the result of extensive studies carried out in the Kingdom since the NSHR's establishment on March 9, 2004.

According to the organization, over the past three years, it has received over 8,570 complaints from citizens and residents.

An NSHR spokesperson said that its report was based on findings related to complaints it had received, reports in the media and reports submitted by foreign human rights organizations. The violations listed in the report were against both local and international treaties which the Kingdom has signed.

The NSHR report urges the cancellation of the sponsorship system in the Kingdom which, it says, "causes many injustices to foreign workers." It also urged that the Saudi court system be independent and that judges should, in some cases, be punished.

It called for more courts to be established in the Kingdom in order to "eradicate the phenomenon of postponement." It suggested that a school text book entitled "Human Rights in Saudi Arabia" be taught in Saudi public and private schools.

The report called for ending discrimination against citizens who complain of injustice due to their following a school of religious thought different from the majority; they say that they do not enjoy the same citizenship benefits as the majority of the population.

Some violations in the report are listed below.

1. The obligation of a woman, regardless of age or educational status, to have a male guardian.

2. A Saudi woman of whatever age or educational level cannot obtain an identification card or passport without the approval of her guardian. Men are also required to identify a woman in the courts.

3. Discrimination between a Saudi man and a Saudi woman in granting citizenship to spouses and children. The children of a Saudi man married to a non-Saudi woman are automatically granted Saudi citizenship. A non-Saudi woman married to a Saudi can become Saudi. The children of a Saudi woman married to a non-Saudi man are not Saudi. The non-Saudi husband of a Saudi woman cannot become Saudi.

4. The non-Saudi husband of a Saudi woman can be deported for having committed certain violations. This is done with no consideration of the possible consequences to his children.

5. Saudi women are limited in the fields of study available to them. This is the case in universities, colleges as well as in training and vocational institutions.

6. Many Saudi women are forced to marry and others are not allowed to marry as they wish. A woman's education, work and public activity are all dependent on her male guardian's approval, regardless of his age or educational qualifications.

7. Domestic violence, defined as abuse of women and children, accounted for a large number of complaints received by the NSHR.

8. Violations of the rights of prisoners. These include punishments such as solitary confinement and not allowing the prisoner to leave his cell. Reports have also been received of beatings and humiliations inflicted in order to obtain confessions. The report also said that prison directories lacked a modern database where records could be kept. It called on the Grievances Court to look into cases of forced confessions and to legislate directives which prohibit such acts.

9. Inequality in job opportunities for Saudis.

10. Inequality between Saudis and Non-Saudis. "The NSHR has noticed that the rights of non-Saudis are limited in comparison to the rights of Saudis." This is especially true when it comes to leaving and returning to the Kingdom. Non-Saudis do not have the right to free treatment in public hospitals though they can receive it after time-consuming bureaucratic procedures.

The NSHR also noted a number of cases in which non-Saudis had been humiliated, mistreated and abused by the Saudi police. The report urges the Labor Ministry to take action and to create awareness among non-Saudis of their rights, duties, and the punishments for committing violations. It suggested that the ministry publish and distribute to non-Saudis a booklet which makes their rights clear.

The NSHR also noted differences in treatment between foreign nationals according to their home countries. It mentioned that the Kingdom signed a treaty with the International Labor Organization in 1951 guaranteeing equal wage for men and women doing the same job.

11. Human rights violations by government employees. The NSHR has noted human rights violations by employees of different government bodies, including the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. The organization noted that according to a royal decree, the commission has the right to enforce proper conduct in society and to detain those who violate the Kingdom's Islamic laws.

The NSHR noted that the wording that the commission has a duty to "implement its job with all seriousness" be changed since it was too vague and could be misinterpreted.

Following are a list of the most serious complaints against the commission:

a. Using abusive language, making unsubstantiated accusations and humiliating people during interrogation.

b. Beating people and using force to arrest suspects and take them to detention centers. Using force during investigations as well as unnecessary body searches.

c. Forced entry into private residences. Confiscating mobile phones and personal belongings.

d. Using pressure and humiliation in order to force people to sign confessions. Individuals were promised release only after signing a confession. Many people detained by the commission were not allowed to call their families.

The NSHR urged the commission to issue uniforms for its members so that they could be recognized and acknowledged by the public.

12. Violations of the right to a fair trial.

a. Inequality between men and women. A woman is not allowed to represent herself in court unless her legal guardian is present. This is a violation of her legal rights.

b. Discrimination between defendants in court trials. Some people are not allowed to respond to the accusations against them while others are pressured to shorten their complaints or else be subjected to disciplinary punishment. In addition, in various financial disputes involving a Saudi and a non-Saudi, there has been discrimination in favor of the Saudi.

c. Variations in court sentences. The same crime does not always get the same punishment.

d. Results of court hearings and sentences not being publicly announced.

e. Discrimination in accepting witnesses' testimony.

f. Court cases stretching over too long a period without being settled.

g. Religious judges who deal with non-religious violations such as traffic and labor disputes, homicides, etc.

h. Denying the accused the right to hire a lawyer.

i. The absence of refresher courses of any kind for judges.

j. The small number of judges in the country compared to its population.

By Raid Qusti

© Arab News 2007