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REPORT o Saudi Arabia: A secret state of suffering
ISSUES o torture o military, security and police relations
COUNTRY INDEX:
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No dissent allowed Anyone brave enough to voice dissent in Saudi Arabia is likely to end up in jail for a very long time and suffer other violations of their basic human rights. The reason is simple. The government does not allow any criticisms of its policies or any independent thought or activity that might challenge the status quo. Political and religious opponents of the government and activists promoting rights for the country's minority Shi'a Muslim community are at constant risk of indefinite detention without charge or trial. They are often released only after pledging to stop their activities.
"Security forces have arrested... [them] after about one year of attempts to convince... [them] to repent their extremist ideas... which threaten the unity of the Islamic society in the Kingdom, or to stop giving such speeches, holding conferences and distributing tapes..." Thousands of political detainees have been arbitrarily detained over the years. They have included individual critics and members of banned political and religious movements, as well as relatives and friends of such people. Today there are thought to be between 100 and 200 political prisoners in Saudi Arabia, including possible prisoners of conscience, most held without charge. For example, Dr Sa'id bin Zua'ir, head of the Department of Information at Imam Muhammad Ibn Sa'ud University, was arrested in early 1995 at his home in Riyadh by members of al-Mabahith al-'Amma (General Investigations). He is believed to have been denied visits from his relatives and to have been pressured to sign an undertaking to cease political activities in exchange for his release. Nevertheless, he continues to be held in al-Ha'ir prison in Riyadh. Waleed al-Sinani has reportedly been detained without trial since 1995. He may be a prisoner of conscience. His arrest appeared to be related to his political beliefs, in particular statements he made about the government and human rights.
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An unjust death Abdul-Karim al-Naqshabandi, a Syrian, was executed in 1996. After a secret and summary trial he was convicted of witchcraft, a capital offence. In a letter to the court he protested his innocence and begged them to hear his defence.
"They tied me up like an animal... I had no option but to accept and sign in order to protect myself. I signed in the hope that I would find someone in the police who would want to listen to the truth, but I was surprised with a more severe treatment... the officer put his shoe in my mouth, beat me up, put me in a cell, and did not allow any visits. "He threatened me with worse treatment if I refused to agree to the confession in court. Under these circumstances I ratified my confession in the hope that someone would listen to me in court." Abdul-Karim al-Naqshabandi also pointed out facts, dates, names of witnesses and documents that threw considerable doubt on the accusation against him. He argued that he had been framed by his influential employer as revenge for refusing to help with a false testimony in a business deal. It is not clear whether the court looked into any of these issues. What is clear is that he was denied the right to defend himself and that he was executed on 13 December 1996 without receiving any response to his detailed written defence. Like many before and since him, he was simply made to sign his life away with a confession that was extracted as he was tortured. |
"They did not give me a chance to defend myself... The investigation was carried out with me by one person only but they all... ratified what he had to say even though they had not heard what I said to him... he threatens me with beating. 