First independent rights body set up in Saudi Arabia

The first independent human rights organisation was established in Saudi Arabia, with a special committee to monitor violations against women.

According to the Arabic daily Asharq Al Awsat, the National Human Rights Organisation (NHRO) held its first meeting at the headquarters of the Saudi Shura Council in Riyadh last Thursday. The organisation has 41 members, out of which 10 are women.

Dr Abdullah bin Saleh Al Obeid, former secretary general of the Muslim World League and Member of the Saudi Shura Council, was named chairman. Dr Bandar Al Hajjar was appointed vice chairman of the organisation.

At the meeting, the members appointed nine individuals to form an executive body and submitted a plea to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, requesting official approval to allow the organisation to function.

The organisation aims to reinforce human rights in Saudi society and stand against injustice, despotism, intolerance and torture. It will work to protect human rights inside the kingdom in compliance with regulations and rules followed in the field of human rights and Islamic Sharia.

The organisation will also follow up the implementation of international human rights charters signed by Saudi Arabia, including the charters of the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Conference and the Arab League.

The meeting saw the formation of four committees, the most important of which is the committee for follow up, and the family committee. The family committee will be responsible to discuss and follow up on family related issues, particularly those concerning women.

The culture and publishing committee, and the committee for research and study will be responsible for conducting studies and publishing matters.

Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal has said that the organisation would be completely independent. "It will not be under anyone's control," he said, denying that the rights body was set up "under external pressure".

There will be another, government-run human rights body, the prince said, adding that each organisation will serve a different role.

The government rights body will be charged with implementing "government decisions regarding human rights, and to reformulate local laws so they are consistent with the basic system of governance, which focuses on human rights", he said.

Sources say the new organisation will work to protect human rights in the Kingdom without violating the Sharia. The organisation will function in accordance with the basic system of governance and other Saudi laws.

The organisation includes Abdul Rahman Al Rashid, Abdullah Abou Al Samh, Ahmad Saifuddin Turkistani, Suhaila Zain Al Abidine Hammad, Hana Al Mutlak, Abdul Mohsen Al Akkas, Saad Al Ghamdi, Suraya Abid Sheikh, Jowhara Al Anqari, Wafa Mahmoud Taiba, Noura Al Jomaih, Noura Al Yousuf, Lubna Abdul Rahman Al Ansari, Othman Al Rawaf and Noura Al Ajlan.

The formation of the organisation comes after the first human rights conference in Riyadh last October when Minister of State Mutlab Al Nafeesa said the existing human rights committee at the Shura Council would coordinate with the two human rights bodies.

He said that the council would also deal with the issues of women and children and work to safeguard their rights.

The minister added that the Shura's Islamic Affairs Committee planned to set up a supreme family council to work for the welfare of women and children, including the increasing number of divorces and the rise in the number of unmarried women.