Manama: Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecution said it has concluded its investigation into the case of several individuals accused of “attempting to cause instability in the Kingdom.”
The indictment list has been prepared and the suspects will be referred to the relevant court, the prosecution said in a statement late on Friday.
The suspects were arrested by the Presidency of State Security after it uncovered coordinated and organised activities that aim to undermine the Kingdom’s security, stability, public order and national unity, it added.
The statement stressed that “all the detainees in this case enjoy all rights guaranteed by the laws of the Kingdom.”
On June 2, the Public Prosecutor announced the arrest of nine suspects, five men and four women after it received enough evidence and the admission of the charge against them of communicating with hostile individuals and organisations.
The prosecutor added that eight more suspects, five women and three men, were released pending further investigations.
Shalaan Bin Rajeh Bin Shalaan, a deputy prosecutor and the prosecution spokesperson, told Al Sharq Al Awsat daily that “all detainees whether women or men are being treated well according to the laws and procedures in force,” and denied media reports that some of them were subjected to torture.
The prosecution launched an investigation into the case of a woman specifically named in the media reports and concluded that the claims of torture were not true, he said.
“Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Commission and the National Society for Human Rights also investigated the case and concluded that the torture allegations were baseless. The detainee, like all others, enjoys all her rights guaranteed by the system, including communication and visitation,” Shaalan said.
He stressed that the charges levelled against the suspects were “contacts and cooperation with individuals and organisations hostile to the Kingdom, the recruitment of individuals holding positions in a sensitive government entity to obtain official information and documents in order to harm the higher interests of the Kingdom, and the provision of financial and moral support for hostile elements abroad.”
All the charges against them are crimes that warrant their arrest, he added.
According to the prosecution, the law does not differentiate between men and women when they commit a crime.
“Men and women are equally responsible for the charges against them. However, the legal system gives women special treatment during their detention.”
The prosecution insisted that “Saudi Arabia has the right to protect its national security from any attempts to harm it. No country would tolerate contacts between its citizens and antagonistic individuals and hostile organisations.”
The suspects will be put on trial soon, Shalaan said.
