Saudi Arabia reports on human rights in the kingdom

Saudi Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Prince Torki Mohammed Saud Al-Kabeer, who is also under-secretary-general for political affairs and director-general for international organizations department of Saudi Arabia, told the United Nations Commission on Human rights last week that Saudi Arabia had taken steps that included cooperation with the commission and a Special Rapporteur on the independence of the judiciary, a UN press release said.

He said the Saudis had also supported funds established by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and established a governmental committee to investigate allegations of torture and other violations of human rights.

Prince Torki said Saudi Arabia is educating the public on human rights and that it had applied for membership in the UNHCHR.

He identified steps taken by Saudi Arabia to promote human rights as "the authorization of the establishment of an independent non-governmental national body to help publicize human rights and to advocate the punishment of offenders; the establishment of a national governmental body vested with authority to look into human rights issues; the establishment of human rights sections in the governmental agencies concerned; and the adoption of new regulations governing the legal profession and legal counseling," the UN release said.

He said citizens and foreign residents enjoyed equal rights and that non-Muslims had never been prosecuted or punished by Saudi Arabia because of their faith. He pointed to the recent decision to allow non-citizens to own property and invest in Saudi stock market funds.

He said that the kingdom is working to ensure that women receive all the rights granted under Islamic Sharia and on educating females.