Human rights Watch criticizes Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, Politics, 10/31/2003

The US based Human Rights Watch organization said that Saudi Arabia undermines its projects for political reforms, by detaining hundreds of persons who demonstrated peacefully at the beginning of the current month in Riyadh.

In a statement yesterday, the organization "Saudi Arabia's arrest of hundreds of peaceful protesters in a series of demonstrations and its continued denial of freedom of expression and assembly make a mockery of the kingdom's pledges of political reform."

"Everyone in Saudi Arabia should be free to express his or her political views publicly and peacefully without being thrown in jail and put on trial," said Joe Stork, acting executive director of the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch. "The reality of the repression speaks louder than the promises of reform."

The organization called for Saudi Arabia to "Determine and make public the basis under Saudi law for the continued detention of some 150 demonstrators, and clarify if they are under investigation for alleged criminal offenses... Ensure that each detainee is provided all the rights under Saudi Arabia's new criminal procedure code, including the right to a lawyer during investigation and trial. Set forth the legal or administrative procedures that residents of the kingdom can utilize in order to exercise the right to peaceful assembly. Such procedures should enable, not hamper, the exercise of this right, and they should be consistent with internationally recognized human rights standards."

More than 270 persons were arrested during their participation in demonstration in Riyadh. Some 83 of them are presumed to be brought before justice.

Previous Stories:
  Washington expects attacks on Saudi Arabia air targets   (10/29/2003)
  Saudi opposition prepares for demonstration in Ramadan   (10/25/2003)
  Washington calls Riyadh to speed reforms, Saudi demonstrations foiled   (10/24/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search