Saudi watchdog issues detailed human rights report

Abu Dhabi: The Saudi Human Rights Commission has issued a detailed report of the human rights situation in the various regions of the Kingdom, which included transparent documentation of violations, local media reported.

During the year, the commission monitored 164 cases of human rights violations, including criminal justice, protection from abuse, health, social care, education, work, protection from trafficking in persons, identity and nationality, in addition to various other cases.

Saudi Arabia continues its reforms to enhance human rights and make them the object of its utmost concern. However, the step of monitoring the number of violators, conducting field trips, and then announcing them, represents a new mechanism that includes taking a number of strict regulatory measures against every offender.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has adopted a series of human rights reforms, welcomed internationally, after criticisms during previous periods.

The Saudi Human Rights watchdog fast-tracked reforms, including the abolition of the execution of minors, the abolition of flogging as a form of punishment, and its replacement with imprisonment or a fine or both, and introducing alternative punishments such as providing community services.

In its report, the watchdog recommended a criminal system that documents verdicts on corporalpunishment, blood money and discretionary sanctions, while considering alternative punishments whenever it is possible.

Moreover, it suggested that personal status laws in Islam should be documented, courts of separate jurisdiction should be established as soon as possible based on the nature and type of crime as indicated in the new judiciary and Grievance Office regulations and business process.

According to the report, more judges shall be hired in consistence with the increasing number of claims filed before courts to ensure expeditious resolving of these claims and guarantee rights of the adversaries.

“Moreover, curriculums in faculties of Shari’a and law should be revised with new programmes initiated in consistence with various court jurisdiction. Courses should include human rights subjects. The role of verdict implementation judge should be activated to ensure timely implementation of verdicts whether issued by public judiciary authority or by the administrative jurisdiction. Rules shall be enacted to inflict punishment on violators,” the report said.

The report reviews the main achievements during the reign of King Salman that witnessed qualitative reform leaps. Many royal decrees and directives were issued to ensure the security and stability of the country, its growth and prosperity and creating the best prospects of decent life to its people and to everybody residing in the country and allow them contribute to the construction and development efforts be pursued in public except for some exceptional cases specified by regulations.

The report says it is necessary to open female sections in the courts to provide legal advice and assistance.

The Saudi watchdog demanded a clause be included in the penal proceedings regulations or its by-law that alerts the defendant to their rights and the guarantees available for them upon arrest. Access to an advocate or proxy shall be facilitated during evidence compilation, investigation and trial. The lawyer should be present in all proceedings according to provisions of the penal procedures.

It underscored the need to activate the role of competent agencies in implementing the penal procedures in all proceedings and to support the Public Investigation and Prosecution Agency in order to perform its investigation.

The penal procedures provide for independent procedure of the investigating authority which should conduct investigation procedures including search, control of messages, call tapping and other procedures in accordance with controls identified by rules and regulations.

The watchdog also demanded preventive measures be taken and entrenched to eliminate torture by training of police officers in various aspects of human rights and criminal justice. Regular inspection visits to prisons, police stations and detention centres should be scheduled. Procedures for filing and processing of complaints should be declared and displayed at the competent agencies.

In its recommendations, the Saudi watchdog emphasised the need to expedite clearance of prisoners and detainees lawsuits on an urgent basis. Everybody blamed for unduly extending detention period should be punished.

According to imprisonment and detention regulations, a prisoner/detainee shall be released before noon of the day following the date of completion of imprisonment/detention period. A prisoner/detainee should not be retained in prison on other charges, unless a detention warrant or conviction verdict is issued against them.

The watchdog also demanded implementation of the penal procedures with respect to immediate release of a detainee if an acquittal verdict is issued or if the penalty is served.