Saudi Arabia’s Deplorable Human Rights Record
Aby June 13th, 2007
Saudi Arabia, the holy land of pilgrimage for Muslims all over the world, is not so holy when it comes to humanity and justice. A look at the real facts makes us see that it is not as moderate as vested interests would like to have us believe. Gross human rights violations are a norm by the government, police and muttawa (religious police) in the name of Islam. The violation of basic human rights were increased in the wake of 11 September 2001 attacks on the USA, aided by its secretive criminal justice system which totally disregards freedom of thought and civil liberties. Critics are silenced by violent means, women are discriminated against in every sphere of their lives, refugees continue to live in camps as virtual prisoners.
A woman’s rights activist talks about the status of women in Saudi Arabia
Discrimination Against Women
The reality of discrimination against women was brought in all nakedness to the world by the death of 15 girls and the injury of dozens of others during a fire at a school in Mecca housing 800 girls. The girls were stopped from escaping and beaten back by the police into the blazing building because they were not wearing the correct Islamic uniform which shocked and appalled the entire world but we soon forgot the incident. Women are still discriminated as they are not given representation in the government, no legal counsel in trials which are almost always manned by men, no scope for employment or higher education for self reliance. Domestic violence against women is legally and religiously sanctioned. In case of serious crimes against women like rape or murder, the women rarely get justice as women who are raped are punished for adultery with stoning or lashes. In case of murder the accused can make a plea that the woman was blasphemous against Allah and/or his prophets and thus escape punishment.
Torture and Ill Treatment in Detention
Children, women and men alike are detained, tortured and beaten by the Saudi authorities for protests against the government or other crimes of conscience. One former possible prisoner of conscience released in March said that he had been shackled hand and foot, beaten and deprived of sleep. The lawyers of Alexander Mitchell and William Sampson stated that that their clients had suffered physical and mental torture during their interrogation. No investigations into such allegations were known to have been carried out.
Flogging
Judicial floggings are conducted by the police on teenage boys suspected of ‘immoral behaviour’ for ‘offences’ as minor as flirting which we take for granted in the civilised world. Women face flogging for being raped, men face flogging for pre-marital sex and ‘behaving like a woman’.
Bodily mutilation
Bodily mutilations like amputation of hands and feet, extraction of teeth and such are conducted in Saudi Arabia as judicial punishments for stealing and as retribution. The punishments are carried both on nationals and foreigners living in Saudi Arabia.
Death Penalty
Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries in the world which still uses death penalty as a punishment. The exact number of prisoners sentenced to death is not known as the criminal justice system in Saudi Arabia operates with the secrecy of a military system. Death sentences are carried out for offences like extramarital sex, homicides, drug traficking, revolts against the government, blaspehmy against Islam, homosexuality, etc.
More References on Human Rights Violation in Saudi Arabia -
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