| SAUDI ARABIA Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah Joined United Nations: 24 October 1945 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Click here Updated 11/29/10 |
| CAPITAL |
| POPULATION |
| CHIEF OF STATE |
| SELECTION PROCESS |
Riyadh
25,731,776
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
The monarch is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance Commission
created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of
Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but
the new system will not take effect until after Crown Prince Sultan
becomes king
Next scheduled election: None
created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of
Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but
the new system will not take effect until after Crown Prince Sultan
becomes king
Next scheduled election: None
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
SELECTION PROCESS
According to the Saudi Constitution, the King is both the Chief
of State and Head of Government
of State and Head of Government
| DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
| RELIGIONS |
Muslim 100%
| GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE |
Monarchy with 13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Legal system is based on Shari'a law, several secular codes have been
introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive: The monarch is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a
committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after Crown
Prince Sultan becomes king
Legislative: Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year
terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for half of the members of
local and provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally
over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced
Judicial: Supreme Council of Justice
introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive: The monarch is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a
committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after Crown
Prince Sultan becomes king
Legislative: Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year
terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for half of the members of
local and provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally
over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced
Judicial: Supreme Council of Justice
| LANGUAGES |
Arabic
| BRIEF HISTORY |
There are epigraphic Old South Arabian sources from about the 9th century BC, and Old North Arabian one from about the 6th
century BC. From the 3rd century AD, Arabian history becomes more tangible with the rise of the Himyarite Kingdom, and with the
appearance of the Qahtanis in the Levant and the gradual assimilation of the Nabateans by the Qahtanis in the early centuries AD, a
tendency of expansion that finally culminated in the explosive Muslim conquests of the 7th century. The earliest known events in
Arabian history are migrations from the peninsula into neighbouring areas. In the 3rd millennium BC, Semitic-speaking peoples
migrated from the Arabian peninsula into Mesopotamia, settled in Sumer, and eventually established the Akkadian Empire under
Sargon of Akkad (c. 2300). The Babylonians and Assyrians were later descended from the Semitic Akkadians. The East Semitic
group established itself at Ebla. The Amorites were West Semitic speakers who left Arabia in the late 3rd millennium and settled
along the Levant. Some of these migrants evolved into the Amorites and Canaanites of later times. Magan is attested as the name of
a trading partner of the Sumer. It is often assumed to be located in Oman. The A'adids established themselves in South Arabia
settling to the East of the Qahtan tribe. They established the Kingdom of A'ad around the 10th century BC to the 3rd century AD.
The A'ad nation were known to the Greeks and Egyptians. Claudius Ptolemy's Geographos (2nd century AD) refers to the place by
a Hellenized version of the inhabitants of the capital Ubar. During Minaean rule (9th century BC - 1st century BC) the capital was at
Karna (now known as Sadah). Their other important city was Yathill (now known as Baraqish). During Sabaean rule, trade and
agriculture flourished generating much wealth and prosperity. The Sabaean kingdom (9th century BC - 275AD) is located in what is
now the Aseer region in southwestern Yemen, and its capital, Ma'rib, is located near what is now Yemen's modern capital, Sana'a.
Yemen was called "Arabia Felix" by the Romans who were impressed by its wealth and prosperity. The Roman emperor Augustus
sent a military expedition to conquer the "Arabia Felix", under the orders of Aelius Gallus. After an unsuccessful siege of Ma'rib, the
Roman general retreated to Egypt, while his fleet destroyed the port of Aden in order to guarantee the Roman merchant route to
India. The first known inscriptions of Hadramaut are known from the 8th century BCE. It was first referenced by an outside
civilization in an Old Sabaic inscription of Karab'il Watar from the early 7th century BCE, in which the King of Hadramaut, Yada`'il,
is mentioned as being one of his allies. The kingdom of Hadramaut was eventually conquered by the Himyarite king Shammar
Yuhar`ish around 300 CE, unifying all of the South Arabian kingdoms. The ancient Kingdom of Awsan in South Arabia (modern
Yemen), with a capital at Hagar Yahirr in the wadi Markha, to the south of the wadi Bayhan, is now marked by a tell or artificial
mound, which is locally named Hagar Asfal. Achaemenid Arabia corresponded to the lands between Egypt and Mesopotamia, later
known as Arabia Petraea. According to Herodotus, Cambyses did not subdue the bedouins when he attacked Egypt in 525 BCE.
His successor Darius the Great does not mention the bedouins in the Behistun inscription from the first years of his reign, but
mentions them in later texts. This suggests that Darius conquered this part of Arabia. The Nabateans are not to be found among the
tribes that are listed in Arab genealogies because the Nabatean kingdom ended long time before the coming of Islam. They settled
east of the Syro-African rift between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, that is, in the land that had once been Edom. And although the
first sure reference to them dates from 312 BC, it is possible that they were present much earlier. Originally speaking an Aramaic
language, they adopted an Old North Arabian dialect from ca. the 4th century AD. Palmyra was made part of the Roman province
of Syria during the reign of Tiberius (14–37). It steadily grew in importance as a trade route linking Persia, India, China, and the
Roman empire. Qataban (2nd Century BC - 525 AD) was one of the ancient Yemeni kingdoms which thrived in the Baihan valley.
Aksumite (525 AD - 570 AD). established their capital at Thifar (now just a small village in the Ibb region) and gradually absorbed
the Sabaean kingdom. They traded from the port of Mawza'a on the Red Sea. Dhu Nuwas, a Himyarite king, changed the state
religion to Judaism in the beginning of the 6th century and began to massacre the Christians. The Persian king Khosrau I, sent troops
under the command of Vahriz (Persian اسپهبد وهرز), who helped the semi-legendary Saif bin Dhi Yazan to drive the Ethiopian
Aksumites out of Yemen. The rise of Islam in the 620s AD, and the subsequent religious importance of the Arabian cities of
Makkah (Makkah al-Mukarramah, or Mecca) and Medina (two of the holiest places in Islam), have given the rulers of this territory
significant influence beyond the peninsula. The First Saudi State was established in the year 1744 (1157 A.H.) when leader Sheikh
Muhammed ibn Abd al Wahhab settled in Diriyah and Prince Muhammed Ibn Saud agreed to support and espouse his cause, with
a view to cleansing the Islamic faith from distortions. The House of Saud with other allies rose to become the dominant state in
Arabia controlling most of the Nejd, but not either coast. Concerned at the growing power of the Saudis the Ottoman Sultan
instructed Mohammed Ali Pasha to reconquer the area. Ali sent his sons Tusun Pasha and Ibrahim Pasha who were successful in
routing the Saudi forces in 1818. After a rebuilding period following the ending of the First Saudi State, the House of Saud returned
to power in the Second Saudi State in 1824. The state lasted until 1891 when it succumbed to the Al Rashid dynasty of Ha'il. In
1902 Ibn Saud reconquered Riyadh, the first of a series of conquests leading to the creation of the modern nation state of Saudi
Arabia in 1932. The Third Saudi state was founded by the late King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (known internationally as Abdul Aziz Ibn
Saud). By the Treaty of Jeddah, signed on May 20, 1927, the United Kingdom recognized the independence of Abdul Aziz's realm
(then known as the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd). In 1932, these regions were unified as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The
discovery of oil on March 3, 1938 transformed the country. King Abdul Aziz died in 1953 and was succeeded by his eldest son,
Saud, who reigned for 11 years. In 1964, Saud was forced to abdicate in favour of his half-brother, Faisal, who had served as
Foreign Minister. Because of fiscal difficulties, King Saud had been persuaded in 1958 to delegate direct conduct of Saudi
Government affairs to Faisal as Prime Minister; Saud briefly regained control of the government in 1960-62. In October 1962,
Faisal outlined a broad reform program, stressing economic development. Proclaimed King in 1964 by senior royal family members
and religious leaders, Faisal also continued to serve as Prime Minister. This practice has been followed by subsequent kings. Saudi
forces did not participate in the Six-Day (Arab-Israeli) War of June 1967, but the government later provided annual subsidies to
Egypt, Jordan, and Syria to support their economies. During the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, Saudi Arabia participated in the Arab oil
boycott of the United States and Netherlands. In 1975, King Faisal was assassinated by a nephew, who was executed after an
extensive investigation concluded that he acted alone. Faisal was succeeded by his half-brother Khalid as King and Prime Minister;
their half-brother Prince Fahd was named Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. In June 1982, King Khalid died, and
Fahd became King and Prime Minister in a smooth transition. Another half-brother, Prince Abdullah, Commander of the Saudi
National Guard, was named Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. King Fahd's brother, Prince Sultan, the Minister of
Defense and Aviation, became Second Deputy Prime Minister. Under King Fahd, the Saudi economy adjusted to sharply lower oil
revenues resulting from declining global oil prices. King Fahd played a key role before and during the 1991 Persian Gulf War: Saudi
Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for
the liberation of Kuwait the following year. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, it became known that 15 of the 19 suspected
hijackers were Saudi. Saudi Arabia became the focus of worldwide attention once again, as it was questioned whether the
government was indeed cracking down on radicals. The Saudi government pledged their support to the War on Terror, and vowed
to try to eliminate militant elements. King Fahd suffered a stroke in November 1995, and died in July 2005. He was succeeded by
his brother Crown Prince Abdullah, who had handled most of the day-to-day operations of the government.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Saudi Arabia
century BC. From the 3rd century AD, Arabian history becomes more tangible with the rise of the Himyarite Kingdom, and with the
appearance of the Qahtanis in the Levant and the gradual assimilation of the Nabateans by the Qahtanis in the early centuries AD, a
tendency of expansion that finally culminated in the explosive Muslim conquests of the 7th century. The earliest known events in
Arabian history are migrations from the peninsula into neighbouring areas. In the 3rd millennium BC, Semitic-speaking peoples
migrated from the Arabian peninsula into Mesopotamia, settled in Sumer, and eventually established the Akkadian Empire under
Sargon of Akkad (c. 2300). The Babylonians and Assyrians were later descended from the Semitic Akkadians. The East Semitic
group established itself at Ebla. The Amorites were West Semitic speakers who left Arabia in the late 3rd millennium and settled
along the Levant. Some of these migrants evolved into the Amorites and Canaanites of later times. Magan is attested as the name of
a trading partner of the Sumer. It is often assumed to be located in Oman. The A'adids established themselves in South Arabia
settling to the East of the Qahtan tribe. They established the Kingdom of A'ad around the 10th century BC to the 3rd century AD.
The A'ad nation were known to the Greeks and Egyptians. Claudius Ptolemy's Geographos (2nd century AD) refers to the place by
a Hellenized version of the inhabitants of the capital Ubar. During Minaean rule (9th century BC - 1st century BC) the capital was at
Karna (now known as Sadah). Their other important city was Yathill (now known as Baraqish). During Sabaean rule, trade and
agriculture flourished generating much wealth and prosperity. The Sabaean kingdom (9th century BC - 275AD) is located in what is
now the Aseer region in southwestern Yemen, and its capital, Ma'rib, is located near what is now Yemen's modern capital, Sana'a.
Yemen was called "Arabia Felix" by the Romans who were impressed by its wealth and prosperity. The Roman emperor Augustus
sent a military expedition to conquer the "Arabia Felix", under the orders of Aelius Gallus. After an unsuccessful siege of Ma'rib, the
Roman general retreated to Egypt, while his fleet destroyed the port of Aden in order to guarantee the Roman merchant route to
India. The first known inscriptions of Hadramaut are known from the 8th century BCE. It was first referenced by an outside
civilization in an Old Sabaic inscription of Karab'il Watar from the early 7th century BCE, in which the King of Hadramaut, Yada`'il,
is mentioned as being one of his allies. The kingdom of Hadramaut was eventually conquered by the Himyarite king Shammar
Yuhar`ish around 300 CE, unifying all of the South Arabian kingdoms. The ancient Kingdom of Awsan in South Arabia (modern
Yemen), with a capital at Hagar Yahirr in the wadi Markha, to the south of the wadi Bayhan, is now marked by a tell or artificial
mound, which is locally named Hagar Asfal. Achaemenid Arabia corresponded to the lands between Egypt and Mesopotamia, later
known as Arabia Petraea. According to Herodotus, Cambyses did not subdue the bedouins when he attacked Egypt in 525 BCE.
His successor Darius the Great does not mention the bedouins in the Behistun inscription from the first years of his reign, but
mentions them in later texts. This suggests that Darius conquered this part of Arabia. The Nabateans are not to be found among the
tribes that are listed in Arab genealogies because the Nabatean kingdom ended long time before the coming of Islam. They settled
east of the Syro-African rift between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, that is, in the land that had once been Edom. And although the
first sure reference to them dates from 312 BC, it is possible that they were present much earlier. Originally speaking an Aramaic
language, they adopted an Old North Arabian dialect from ca. the 4th century AD. Palmyra was made part of the Roman province
of Syria during the reign of Tiberius (14–37). It steadily grew in importance as a trade route linking Persia, India, China, and the
Roman empire. Qataban (2nd Century BC - 525 AD) was one of the ancient Yemeni kingdoms which thrived in the Baihan valley.
Aksumite (525 AD - 570 AD). established their capital at Thifar (now just a small village in the Ibb region) and gradually absorbed
the Sabaean kingdom. They traded from the port of Mawza'a on the Red Sea. Dhu Nuwas, a Himyarite king, changed the state
religion to Judaism in the beginning of the 6th century and began to massacre the Christians. The Persian king Khosrau I, sent troops
under the command of Vahriz (Persian اسپهبد وهرز), who helped the semi-legendary Saif bin Dhi Yazan to drive the Ethiopian
Aksumites out of Yemen. The rise of Islam in the 620s AD, and the subsequent religious importance of the Arabian cities of
Makkah (Makkah al-Mukarramah, or Mecca) and Medina (two of the holiest places in Islam), have given the rulers of this territory
significant influence beyond the peninsula. The First Saudi State was established in the year 1744 (1157 A.H.) when leader Sheikh
Muhammed ibn Abd al Wahhab settled in Diriyah and Prince Muhammed Ibn Saud agreed to support and espouse his cause, with
a view to cleansing the Islamic faith from distortions. The House of Saud with other allies rose to become the dominant state in
Arabia controlling most of the Nejd, but not either coast. Concerned at the growing power of the Saudis the Ottoman Sultan
instructed Mohammed Ali Pasha to reconquer the area. Ali sent his sons Tusun Pasha and Ibrahim Pasha who were successful in
routing the Saudi forces in 1818. After a rebuilding period following the ending of the First Saudi State, the House of Saud returned
to power in the Second Saudi State in 1824. The state lasted until 1891 when it succumbed to the Al Rashid dynasty of Ha'il. In
1902 Ibn Saud reconquered Riyadh, the first of a series of conquests leading to the creation of the modern nation state of Saudi
Arabia in 1932. The Third Saudi state was founded by the late King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (known internationally as Abdul Aziz Ibn
Saud). By the Treaty of Jeddah, signed on May 20, 1927, the United Kingdom recognized the independence of Abdul Aziz's realm
(then known as the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd). In 1932, these regions were unified as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The
discovery of oil on March 3, 1938 transformed the country. King Abdul Aziz died in 1953 and was succeeded by his eldest son,
Saud, who reigned for 11 years. In 1964, Saud was forced to abdicate in favour of his half-brother, Faisal, who had served as
Foreign Minister. Because of fiscal difficulties, King Saud had been persuaded in 1958 to delegate direct conduct of Saudi
Government affairs to Faisal as Prime Minister; Saud briefly regained control of the government in 1960-62. In October 1962,
Faisal outlined a broad reform program, stressing economic development. Proclaimed King in 1964 by senior royal family members
and religious leaders, Faisal also continued to serve as Prime Minister. This practice has been followed by subsequent kings. Saudi
forces did not participate in the Six-Day (Arab-Israeli) War of June 1967, but the government later provided annual subsidies to
Egypt, Jordan, and Syria to support their economies. During the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, Saudi Arabia participated in the Arab oil
boycott of the United States and Netherlands. In 1975, King Faisal was assassinated by a nephew, who was executed after an
extensive investigation concluded that he acted alone. Faisal was succeeded by his half-brother Khalid as King and Prime Minister;
their half-brother Prince Fahd was named Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. In June 1982, King Khalid died, and
Fahd became King and Prime Minister in a smooth transition. Another half-brother, Prince Abdullah, Commander of the Saudi
National Guard, was named Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. King Fahd's brother, Prince Sultan, the Minister of
Defense and Aviation, became Second Deputy Prime Minister. Under King Fahd, the Saudi economy adjusted to sharply lower oil
revenues resulting from declining global oil prices. King Fahd played a key role before and during the 1991 Persian Gulf War: Saudi
Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for
the liberation of Kuwait the following year. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, it became known that 15 of the 19 suspected
hijackers were Saudi. Saudi Arabia became the focus of worldwide attention once again, as it was questioned whether the
government was indeed cracking down on radicals. The Saudi government pledged their support to the War on Terror, and vowed
to try to eliminate militant elements. King Fahd suffered a stroke in November 1995, and died in July 2005. He was succeeded by
his brother Crown Prince Abdullah, who had handled most of the day-to-day operations of the government.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Saudi Arabia
| ECONOMIC OVERVIEW |
Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 20% of
the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum
sector accounts for roughly 80% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabia is encouraging the
growth of the private sector in order to diversify its economy and to employ more Saudi nationals. Diversification efforts are
focusing on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. Roughly 5.5 million foreign
workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors, while Riyadh is struggling to reduce
unemployment among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on employing its large youth population, which
generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training
and education, most recently with the opening of the King Abdallah University of Science and Technology - Saudi Arabia's first
co-educational university. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005
after many years of negotiations. The government has begun establishing six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to
promote economic development. Five years of high oil prices during 2004-08 gave the Kingdom ample financial reserves to manage
the impact of the global financial crisis, but tight international credit, falling oil prices, and the global economic slowdown reduced
Saudi economic growth in 2009, prompting the postponement of some economic development projects. Saudi authorities
supported the banking sector during the crisis by making direct capital injections into banks, reducing rates, and publicly affirming
the government's guarantee of bank deposits.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Saudi Arabia)
the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum
sector accounts for roughly 80% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabia is encouraging the
growth of the private sector in order to diversify its economy and to employ more Saudi nationals. Diversification efforts are
focusing on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. Roughly 5.5 million foreign
workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors, while Riyadh is struggling to reduce
unemployment among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on employing its large youth population, which
generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training
and education, most recently with the opening of the King Abdallah University of Science and Technology - Saudi Arabia's first
co-educational university. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005
after many years of negotiations. The government has begun establishing six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to
promote economic development. Five years of high oil prices during 2004-08 gave the Kingdom ample financial reserves to manage
the impact of the global financial crisis, but tight international credit, falling oil prices, and the global economic slowdown reduced
Saudi economic growth in 2009, prompting the postponement of some economic development projects. Saudi authorities
supported the banking sector during the crisis by making direct capital injections into banks, reducing rates, and publicly affirming
the government's guarantee of bank deposits.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Saudi Arabia)
| POLITICAL CLIMATE |
There are no recognized national political parties, although the Green Party of Saudi Arabia has been active since 2001. The state's
ideology is Wahhabism. This flavour of Islam spreads further by funding the construction of mosques and madrassas (schools based
on the Qur'an) around the world. The leading members of the royal family choose the king from among themselves with the
subsequent approval of the ulema.
The central institution of Saudi Arabian Government is the Saudi monarchy. The Basic Law adopted in 1992 declared that Saudi
Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of the first king, Abd Al Aziz Al Saud, and that the Qur'an is the constitution
of the country, which is governed on the basis of Islamic law (Shari'a). On 20 October 2006 the creation of a committee of princes
to vote on the eligibility of future kings and crown princes was set up. The committee, to be known as the Allegiance Institution, will
include the sons and grandsons of King Abdul Aziz, under the new rules the committee can vote for one of three princes nominated
by the king. In the event that neither the king nor the crown prince are deemed fit to rule, a five-member transitory council would run
state affairs for a maximum of one week.
There are no recognized political parties or national elections, except the local elections which were held in the year 2005. The
king's powers are theoretically limited within the bounds of Shari'a and other Saudi traditions. He also must retain a consensus of the
Saudi royal family, religious leaders (ulema), and other important elements in Saudi society.
Saudi Arabia has little formal criminal code, and instead criminal laws largely come out through the kingdom's adherence to a
conservative form of Sunni Islam commonly known as Wahhabism and the desire of the royal family to prevent any type of political
opposition. The kingdom does have an extensive civil and commercial code, mainly to encourage economic development and
foreign investment. "Religious cops" (Mutaween) are employed by the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention
of Vice, a government bureaucracy in Saudia Arabia, to enforce Shari'a Law, including banning the practice (in public) of religions
other than Islam.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Saudi Arabia
ideology is Wahhabism. This flavour of Islam spreads further by funding the construction of mosques and madrassas (schools based
on the Qur'an) around the world. The leading members of the royal family choose the king from among themselves with the
subsequent approval of the ulema.
The central institution of Saudi Arabian Government is the Saudi monarchy. The Basic Law adopted in 1992 declared that Saudi
Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of the first king, Abd Al Aziz Al Saud, and that the Qur'an is the constitution
of the country, which is governed on the basis of Islamic law (Shari'a). On 20 October 2006 the creation of a committee of princes
to vote on the eligibility of future kings and crown princes was set up. The committee, to be known as the Allegiance Institution, will
include the sons and grandsons of King Abdul Aziz, under the new rules the committee can vote for one of three princes nominated
by the king. In the event that neither the king nor the crown prince are deemed fit to rule, a five-member transitory council would run
state affairs for a maximum of one week.
There are no recognized political parties or national elections, except the local elections which were held in the year 2005. The
king's powers are theoretically limited within the bounds of Shari'a and other Saudi traditions. He also must retain a consensus of the
Saudi royal family, religious leaders (ulema), and other important elements in Saudi society.
Saudi Arabia has little formal criminal code, and instead criminal laws largely come out through the kingdom's adherence to a
conservative form of Sunni Islam commonly known as Wahhabism and the desire of the royal family to prevent any type of political
opposition. The kingdom does have an extensive civil and commercial code, mainly to encourage economic development and
foreign investment. "Religious cops" (Mutaween) are employed by the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention
of Vice, a government bureaucracy in Saudia Arabia, to enforce Shari'a Law, including banning the practice (in public) of religions
other than Islam.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Saudi Arabia
| INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES |
Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to
stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; Saudi Arabia
claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir
stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; Saudi Arabia
claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir
| REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) |
Refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)
| ILLICIT DRUGS |
Death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement
| HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS, ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUES |
2009 Human Rights Report: Saudi Arabia
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the Al Saud family. The population is approximately 28.5 million, including 5.8
million foreigners. Since 2005, King Abdullah bin Abd Al‑Aziz Al-Saud has ruled under the title Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, a
reference to his responsibility for Islam's two holiest sites in Mecca and Medina. The government bases its legitimacy on its
interpretation of Shari'a (Islamic law) and the 1992 Basic Law. The Basic Law sets out the system of governance, rights of citizens, and
powers and duties of the government. The law also provides that the Koran and the Traditions (Sunna) of the Prophet Muhammad serve
as the country's constitution. In 2005 the country held male‑only elections on a nonparty basis for half the members of municipal
councils, the first elections for any government position since 1963. The civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the
security forces.
During the year the following significant human rights problems were reported:
Significant human rights achievements during the year included implementation of the overhaul of the kingdom's judicial system
announced in 2007 that included the establishment of a new supreme court, regional appeals courts, and specialized courts for general,
criminal, personal status, commercial, and labor cases; systematic review of judicial decisions; and transferring responsibility for hiring,
training and supervision of judges from the Ministry of Justice to the reorganized Supreme Judicial Council. Supporting these reforms,
the king reorganized the Senior Council of Religious Scholars to include representatives of all four schools of Sunni jurisprudence to
broaden the sources for Shari’a (Islamic law) interpretations. The passage of a new Law to Combat Trafficking in Persons has led to
training of law enforcement officials on the application of the law. The first coeducational university, the King Abdullah University of
Science and Technology, opened its doors and the king appointed the first female cabinet-level official, a deputy minister for women's
education.
Click here to read more »
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the Al Saud family. The population is approximately 28.5 million, including 5.8
million foreigners. Since 2005, King Abdullah bin Abd Al‑Aziz Al-Saud has ruled under the title Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, a
reference to his responsibility for Islam's two holiest sites in Mecca and Medina. The government bases its legitimacy on its
interpretation of Shari'a (Islamic law) and the 1992 Basic Law. The Basic Law sets out the system of governance, rights of citizens, and
powers and duties of the government. The law also provides that the Koran and the Traditions (Sunna) of the Prophet Muhammad serve
as the country's constitution. In 2005 the country held male‑only elections on a nonparty basis for half the members of municipal
councils, the first elections for any government position since 1963. The civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the
security forces.
During the year the following significant human rights problems were reported:
- no right to change the government peacefully; disappearances;
- torture and physical abuse;
- poor prison and detention center conditions;
- arbitrary arrest and incommunicado detention;
- denial of public trials and lack of due process in the judicial system;
- political prisoners;
- restrictions on civil liberties such as freedoms of speech (including the Internet), assembly, association, movement, and severe
restrictions on religious freedom; - corruption and lack of government transparency.
- Violence against women, violations of the rights of children, and discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, sect, and ethnicity
were common. - The employment sponsorship system limited the rights of foreign workers and remained a severe problem.
Significant human rights achievements during the year included implementation of the overhaul of the kingdom's judicial system
announced in 2007 that included the establishment of a new supreme court, regional appeals courts, and specialized courts for general,
criminal, personal status, commercial, and labor cases; systematic review of judicial decisions; and transferring responsibility for hiring,
training and supervision of judges from the Ministry of Justice to the reorganized Supreme Judicial Council. Supporting these reforms,
the king reorganized the Senior Council of Religious Scholars to include representatives of all four schools of Sunni jurisprudence to
broaden the sources for Shari’a (Islamic law) interpretations. The passage of a new Law to Combat Trafficking in Persons has led to
training of law enforcement officials on the application of the law. The first coeducational university, the King Abdullah University of
Science and Technology, opened its doors and the king appointed the first female cabinet-level official, a deputy minister for women's
education.
Click here to read more »
14 April 2009
PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Yakin Ertürk*
Addendum
MISSION TO SAUDI ARABIA∗∗
Summary
This report contains my findings following an official visit to Saudi Arabia in February 2008.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is confronted with unprecedented challenges. Pressures for change, particularly in the past two decades,
have resulted in modest reforms which have nonetheless had significant implications for women’s rights.
The voices, aspirations and demands of Saudi women are as diverse and multiple as are their life experiences. While there are those who
express content and satisfaction with their lives, others contend that there are serious levels of discriminatory practices against women,
which compromise their rights and dignity as full human beings and undermine the true values of their society.
A number of positive developments have taken place affecting the status of women, particularly in access to education, which has
resulted in significant improvements in women’s literacy rates within a relatively short period of time. However, this progress has not
been accompanied by a comparable increase in women’s participation in the labour force and they are largely excluded from decision-
making processes.
Sex segregation and the practice of male guardianship pose important obstacles to women’s autonomy, legal capacity as adults, and
ability to participate in the full range of activities available in society and in the workplace.
In recent years, violence against women has been recognized as a public policy issue. However, current judicial practices pertaining to
divorce and child custody as well as women’s lack of autonomy and economic independence continue to limit their ability to escape from
abusive marriages. Issues related to early/forced marriage and divorce are also gaining public attention, although there are few
opportunities for redress due to lack of legal clarity and the discretionary power of judges on these matters. Violence against female
domestic workers, who are amongst the most vulnerable, is not sufficiently recognized.
The report provides a number of recommendations with respect to: measures necessary to women’s empowerment and increased
participation in the public sphere; the elimination of violence against women and girls; judicial and legal reforms; and measures to combat
abuse of migrant workers. Recommendations are also made on ways in which Saudi Arabia can strengthen its cooperation with
international human rights mechanisms.
Click here to read more »
PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Yakin Ertürk*
Addendum
MISSION TO SAUDI ARABIA∗∗
Summary
This report contains my findings following an official visit to Saudi Arabia in February 2008.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is confronted with unprecedented challenges. Pressures for change, particularly in the past two decades,
have resulted in modest reforms which have nonetheless had significant implications for women’s rights.
The voices, aspirations and demands of Saudi women are as diverse and multiple as are their life experiences. While there are those who
express content and satisfaction with their lives, others contend that there are serious levels of discriminatory practices against women,
which compromise their rights and dignity as full human beings and undermine the true values of their society.
A number of positive developments have taken place affecting the status of women, particularly in access to education, which has
resulted in significant improvements in women’s literacy rates within a relatively short period of time. However, this progress has not
been accompanied by a comparable increase in women’s participation in the labour force and they are largely excluded from decision-
making processes.
Sex segregation and the practice of male guardianship pose important obstacles to women’s autonomy, legal capacity as adults, and
ability to participate in the full range of activities available in society and in the workplace.
In recent years, violence against women has been recognized as a public policy issue. However, current judicial practices pertaining to
divorce and child custody as well as women’s lack of autonomy and economic independence continue to limit their ability to escape from
abusive marriages. Issues related to early/forced marriage and divorce are also gaining public attention, although there are few
opportunities for redress due to lack of legal clarity and the discretionary power of judges on these matters. Violence against female
domestic workers, who are amongst the most vulnerable, is not sufficiently recognized.
The report provides a number of recommendations with respect to: measures necessary to women’s empowerment and increased
participation in the public sphere; the elimination of violence against women and girls; judicial and legal reforms; and measures to combat
abuse of migrant workers. Recommendations are also made on ways in which Saudi Arabia can strengthen its cooperation with
international human rights mechanisms.
Click here to read more »
Freedom In The World 2010 Report
Political Rights Score: 7
Civil Liberties Score: 6
Status: Not Free
Overview
In January 2009, Saudi Arabia began implementing portions of an ongoing judicial reform agenda, including training programs for judges
and the construction of new courts. In February King Abdullah sacked two controversial religious leaders and appointed the first-ever
female cabinet member, Deputy Minister for Girls’ Education Noura al-Fayez. The government announced in May that the next
municipal council elections would be postponed by two years. Sectarian tensions remained a serious concern during the year,
particularly after religious police attacked Shiite pilgrims in Medina in February.
A cabinet shake-up in February 2009 resulted in the appointment of the first-ever female cabinet member, Noura al-Fayez, as the deputy
minister for girls’ education. The king also fired two controversial religious figures, the head of the judiciary and the leader of the
Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, also known as the religious police. The move was interpreted as a
sign that the monarchy felt less beholden to hard-line religious leaders and was seeking to promote more moderate clerics. This trend
continued in October, when the king removed a senior religious scholar from the Higher Council of Ulama for his criticism of gender-
desegregated classrooms in the new King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, which had opened the previous month.
In November and December, Saudi military forces carried out air and ground assaults on the Houthi rebel group, based in northern
Yemen. The Shiite guerrillas had been engaged in a bloody conflict with the Yemeni government since 2004, raising Saudi concerns
about instability along the border and broader Shiite militancy.
Saudi Arabia’s growing youth population has added to pressure on the government to create new jobs. In response, it has deployed its
immense oil wealth to strengthen the nonpetroleum sector and sought to encourage private investment. The global economic downturn
that began in late 2008 placed new stresses on the kingdom, but careful budgeting allowed it to avoid any significant political fallout.
Saudi Arabia is not an electoral democracy. The 1992 Basic Law declares that the Koran and the Sunna (the guidance set by the deeds
and sayings of the prophet Muhammad) are the country’s constitution. The cabinet, which is appointed by the king, passes legislation
that becomes law once ratified by royal decree. The king also appoints a 150-member Majlis al-Shura (Consultative Council)every four
years, though it serves only in an advisory capacity. Limited elections for advisory councils at the municipal level were introduced in
2005, but women were excluded. The next round of municipal elections was postponed by two years in May 2009, having initially been
scheduled for that year. The government cited the need to establish mechanisms to involve more voters, although it remained unclear
whether women would be allowed to participate. In addition to these advisory councils, the monarchy has a tradition of consulting with
select members of Saudi society, but the process is not equally open to all citizens.
Click here to read more »
Political Rights Score: 7
Civil Liberties Score: 6
Status: Not Free
Overview
In January 2009, Saudi Arabia began implementing portions of an ongoing judicial reform agenda, including training programs for judges
and the construction of new courts. In February King Abdullah sacked two controversial religious leaders and appointed the first-ever
female cabinet member, Deputy Minister for Girls’ Education Noura al-Fayez. The government announced in May that the next
municipal council elections would be postponed by two years. Sectarian tensions remained a serious concern during the year,
particularly after religious police attacked Shiite pilgrims in Medina in February.
A cabinet shake-up in February 2009 resulted in the appointment of the first-ever female cabinet member, Noura al-Fayez, as the deputy
minister for girls’ education. The king also fired two controversial religious figures, the head of the judiciary and the leader of the
Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, also known as the religious police. The move was interpreted as a
sign that the monarchy felt less beholden to hard-line religious leaders and was seeking to promote more moderate clerics. This trend
continued in October, when the king removed a senior religious scholar from the Higher Council of Ulama for his criticism of gender-
desegregated classrooms in the new King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, which had opened the previous month.
In November and December, Saudi military forces carried out air and ground assaults on the Houthi rebel group, based in northern
Yemen. The Shiite guerrillas had been engaged in a bloody conflict with the Yemeni government since 2004, raising Saudi concerns
about instability along the border and broader Shiite militancy.
Saudi Arabia’s growing youth population has added to pressure on the government to create new jobs. In response, it has deployed its
immense oil wealth to strengthen the nonpetroleum sector and sought to encourage private investment. The global economic downturn
that began in late 2008 placed new stresses on the kingdom, but careful budgeting allowed it to avoid any significant political fallout.
Saudi Arabia is not an electoral democracy. The 1992 Basic Law declares that the Koran and the Sunna (the guidance set by the deeds
and sayings of the prophet Muhammad) are the country’s constitution. The cabinet, which is appointed by the king, passes legislation
that becomes law once ratified by royal decree. The king also appoints a 150-member Majlis al-Shura (Consultative Council)every four
years, though it serves only in an advisory capacity. Limited elections for advisory councils at the municipal level were introduced in
2005, but women were excluded. The next round of municipal elections was postponed by two years in May 2009, having initially been
scheduled for that year. The government cited the need to establish mechanisms to involve more voters, although it remained unclear
whether women would be allowed to participate. In addition to these advisory councils, the monarchy has a tradition of consulting with
select members of Saudi society, but the process is not equally open to all citizens.
Click here to read more »
Fresh claims of abuse of Indonesian domestic workers in Saudi Arabia
19 November 2010
Amnesty International today called on the Saudi Arabian authorities to protect domestic workers from abuse, following the reported
discovery of the mutilated body of an Indonesian woman found in a skip in the town of Abha.
Reports today of the discovery of Kikim Komalasari’s body came as Indonesian officials travelled to Saudi Arabia to investigate
allegations of serious abuse of another Indonesian domestic worker, who has been hospitalised since November 8.
In the last few years, labour reforms have been belatedly introduced in several Gulf States to recognise the rights of migrant workers,
but in virtually all cases, these reforms have afforded little or no protection to domestic workers.
“Saudi Arabia and all the Gulf States have to take steps to put an end to this horrific treatment of migrant domestic workers, by
immediately removing the legal climate of impunity that allows employers to exploit, enslave, abuse, assault and injure their domestic
workers” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Amnesty International welcomed the Saudi Arabian government’s swift cooperation with the Indonesian government over investigating
the case of hospitalised maid Sumiati Binti Salan Mustapa, who alleges that her employer cut her face with scissors.
“We fear that these two abhorrent cases are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the systematic abuse suffered by women
employed as domestic servants in the region” said Malcolm Smart.
Migrant workers from Asian countries such as Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka dominate service industries in the Gulf States,
including domestic labour.
Other reports of abuse of Asian women in the region that have emerged in the past few days include allegations from Kuwait that an
employer there drove 14 metal pins into the body of a Sri Lankan domestic worker and from Jordan that another Sri Lankan domestic
worker was made to swallow six nails.
A Sri Lankan woman alleged in August that her Saudi employers hammered 24 nails into her body.
“These gross abuses will continue to come to light unless governments in the region give migrant domestic workers the rights that are
their due,” said Malcom Smart.
Click here to read more »
19 November 2010
Amnesty International today called on the Saudi Arabian authorities to protect domestic workers from abuse, following the reported
discovery of the mutilated body of an Indonesian woman found in a skip in the town of Abha.
Reports today of the discovery of Kikim Komalasari’s body came as Indonesian officials travelled to Saudi Arabia to investigate
allegations of serious abuse of another Indonesian domestic worker, who has been hospitalised since November 8.
In the last few years, labour reforms have been belatedly introduced in several Gulf States to recognise the rights of migrant workers,
but in virtually all cases, these reforms have afforded little or no protection to domestic workers.
“Saudi Arabia and all the Gulf States have to take steps to put an end to this horrific treatment of migrant domestic workers, by
immediately removing the legal climate of impunity that allows employers to exploit, enslave, abuse, assault and injure their domestic
workers” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Amnesty International welcomed the Saudi Arabian government’s swift cooperation with the Indonesian government over investigating
the case of hospitalised maid Sumiati Binti Salan Mustapa, who alleges that her employer cut her face with scissors.
“We fear that these two abhorrent cases are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the systematic abuse suffered by women
employed as domestic servants in the region” said Malcolm Smart.
Migrant workers from Asian countries such as Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka dominate service industries in the Gulf States,
including domestic labour.
Other reports of abuse of Asian women in the region that have emerged in the past few days include allegations from Kuwait that an
employer there drove 14 metal pins into the body of a Sri Lankan domestic worker and from Jordan that another Sri Lankan domestic
worker was made to swallow six nails.
A Sri Lankan woman alleged in August that her Saudi employers hammered 24 nails into her body.
“These gross abuses will continue to come to light unless governments in the region give migrant domestic workers the rights that are
their due,” said Malcom Smart.
Click here to read more »
Prevent Abuses Against Migrant Domestic Workers
Letter to the Governments of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka
November 23, 2010
To the Governments of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka,
In the wake of recent cases of alleged abuse against Indonesian and Sri Lankan migrant domestic workers employed in Saudi Arabia, we
write to urge your governments to ensure a timely and comprehensive response to these individual cases and to implement systemic
reforms to prevent such abuses in the future.
Since August 2010, three cases of migrant domestic workers suffering extensive physical injuries, and in one case, death, have surfaced.
These include:
* Kikim Komalasari, a 36-year-old Indonesian domestic worker whose body was recovered in Abha this month with signs of extensive
physical abuse.
* Sumiati Salan Mustapa, a 23-year-old Indonesian domestic worker who is currently in a hospital in Medina with burns and severe
physical injuries.
* L.D. Ariyawathie, a 49-year-old Sri Lankan domestic worker who had 24 nails removed from her body upon returning to Sri Lanka
in August 2010.
We acknowledge the steps your governments have taken thus far to provide health care to the survivors of alleged abuse, and to open
criminal investigations in these cases.
While there are a few examples of Saudi courts convicting employers for abuse, we are concerned about the Saudi judicial system's
failure to provide consistent access for migrants to qualified translators and lawyers during legal proceedings. Restrictions and gaps in
Saudi policies compound difficulties faced by migrants seeking justice, such as immigration rules that prohibit victims from working or
moving around freely until the conclusion of criminal cases, which make it extremely difficult to stay in the country legally after
employment has terminated. Migrant workers who have been abused also suffer because of the poor and overcrowded conditions in
embassy shelters where victims usually stay, and threat of spurious counteraccusations by former employers.
Recommendations to the Saudi Government:
* Cooperate with labor-sending countries to conduct investigations into cases of abuse in a timely manner; prosecute alleged
perpetrators, including where appropriate under the anti-trafficking law; allow victims to return to their home countries before the trial
and to be flown in or give video testimony when required; and seek both criminal penalties and financial compensation.
* Fulfill promises to reform or abolish the kafala system so that employers cannot summarily cause the repatriation of migrant
workers, and so a worker does not require her or his employer's consent to change jobs or obtain an exit visa to leave the country.
Click here to read more »
Letter to the Governments of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka
November 23, 2010
To the Governments of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka,
In the wake of recent cases of alleged abuse against Indonesian and Sri Lankan migrant domestic workers employed in Saudi Arabia, we
write to urge your governments to ensure a timely and comprehensive response to these individual cases and to implement systemic
reforms to prevent such abuses in the future.
Since August 2010, three cases of migrant domestic workers suffering extensive physical injuries, and in one case, death, have surfaced.
These include:
* Kikim Komalasari, a 36-year-old Indonesian domestic worker whose body was recovered in Abha this month with signs of extensive
physical abuse.
* Sumiati Salan Mustapa, a 23-year-old Indonesian domestic worker who is currently in a hospital in Medina with burns and severe
physical injuries.
* L.D. Ariyawathie, a 49-year-old Sri Lankan domestic worker who had 24 nails removed from her body upon returning to Sri Lanka
in August 2010.
We acknowledge the steps your governments have taken thus far to provide health care to the survivors of alleged abuse, and to open
criminal investigations in these cases.
While there are a few examples of Saudi courts convicting employers for abuse, we are concerned about the Saudi judicial system's
failure to provide consistent access for migrants to qualified translators and lawyers during legal proceedings. Restrictions and gaps in
Saudi policies compound difficulties faced by migrants seeking justice, such as immigration rules that prohibit victims from working or
moving around freely until the conclusion of criminal cases, which make it extremely difficult to stay in the country legally after
employment has terminated. Migrant workers who have been abused also suffer because of the poor and overcrowded conditions in
embassy shelters where victims usually stay, and threat of spurious counteraccusations by former employers.
Recommendations to the Saudi Government:
* Cooperate with labor-sending countries to conduct investigations into cases of abuse in a timely manner; prosecute alleged
perpetrators, including where appropriate under the anti-trafficking law; allow victims to return to their home countries before the trial
and to be flown in or give video testimony when required; and seek both criminal penalties and financial compensation.
* Fulfill promises to reform or abolish the kafala system so that employers cannot summarily cause the repatriation of migrant
workers, and so a worker does not require her or his employer's consent to change jobs or obtain an exit visa to leave the country.
Click here to read more »
Statement of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Sixty-Fifth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New
York
September 25, 2010
Mr. President,
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proud to have been among the signatories, in San Francisco, of the Charter under which the United
Nations was established. My country believes in the importance of full universal commitment to the fundamental principles and noble
purposes of the United Nations for which that Charter was drawn up, including the regulation of relations between states, the
maintenance of international peace and security, respect for the principles of international law and international legitimacy, and rejection
of all forms and manifestations of violence and extremism. These noble purposes and lofty goals are fully in keeping with the
magnanimous Islamic Shari’a, since the eternal message of Islam is unificatory and non-divisive, just and equitable, egalitarian and non-
discriminatory, and advocates cooperation among all the peoples of the world in order to further their welfare and happiness and
safeguard their rights and dignity.
Accordingly, the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud emphasizes the need to
put the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations into actual and effective practice in a non-selective manner and without
any double standards. My country’s government is also aware of the need to modernize and develop the United Nations and its organs so
that they can play the role required of them.
Protection of human rights, the rule of law, dissemination of a culture of peace and initiatives to promote dialogue among cultures and
peoples constitute basic components of any effective strategy to combat terrorism and extremism and of any fruitful endeavor to prevent
the outbreak of wars and conflicts, which have long caused untold bloodshed and inflicted countless tragedies and calamities on
mankind. Needless to say, respect for United Nations resolutions and the principles of international law is the only way to resolve
chronic international conflicts and defuse focal points of tension, thereby preventing terrorists from exploiting feelings of despair and
frustration brought about by subjection to injustice, aggression and occupation.
For these noble purposes, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud launched his sincere universal
appeal for the pursuit of dialogue among all followers of the religions and cultures constituting the heritage of mankind. This initiative
gained the support of our General Assembly in its High Level Meeting on Promoting Dialogue and Peace during its sixty third session.
Diligent endeavors are currently being made to establish a global center for dialogue, comprising representatives of all the main religions,
which will operate in a fully independent and non-politicized manner.
Click here to read more »
York
September 25, 2010
Mr. President,
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proud to have been among the signatories, in San Francisco, of the Charter under which the United
Nations was established. My country believes in the importance of full universal commitment to the fundamental principles and noble
purposes of the United Nations for which that Charter was drawn up, including the regulation of relations between states, the
maintenance of international peace and security, respect for the principles of international law and international legitimacy, and rejection
of all forms and manifestations of violence and extremism. These noble purposes and lofty goals are fully in keeping with the
magnanimous Islamic Shari’a, since the eternal message of Islam is unificatory and non-divisive, just and equitable, egalitarian and non-
discriminatory, and advocates cooperation among all the peoples of the world in order to further their welfare and happiness and
safeguard their rights and dignity.
Accordingly, the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud emphasizes the need to
put the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations into actual and effective practice in a non-selective manner and without
any double standards. My country’s government is also aware of the need to modernize and develop the United Nations and its organs so
that they can play the role required of them.
Protection of human rights, the rule of law, dissemination of a culture of peace and initiatives to promote dialogue among cultures and
peoples constitute basic components of any effective strategy to combat terrorism and extremism and of any fruitful endeavor to prevent
the outbreak of wars and conflicts, which have long caused untold bloodshed and inflicted countless tragedies and calamities on
mankind. Needless to say, respect for United Nations resolutions and the principles of international law is the only way to resolve
chronic international conflicts and defuse focal points of tension, thereby preventing terrorists from exploiting feelings of despair and
frustration brought about by subjection to injustice, aggression and occupation.
For these noble purposes, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud launched his sincere universal
appeal for the pursuit of dialogue among all followers of the religions and cultures constituting the heritage of mankind. This initiative
gained the support of our General Assembly in its High Level Meeting on Promoting Dialogue and Peace during its sixty third session.
Diligent endeavors are currently being made to establish a global center for dialogue, comprising representatives of all the main religions,
which will operate in a fully independent and non-politicized manner.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM ARABIC BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
Latest News
A delegation of members of the General Department of visiting children at a hospital in Qatif
2010-11-29
On the occasion of International Day for the Rights of the Child a delegation of members of the General Department of visiting children
at a hospital in Qatif.
In a humanitarian gesture would enhance the Assembly's attention to children by a delegation from the National Society for Human
Rights to visit the Department of hypnosis children in hospital Qatif Central, where said head of the delegation Engineer, Jafar Shayeb,
"The visit is to raise awareness of the importance of children and pay attention to their rights, and the need for solidarity with the families
of sick children traveling with their children in the hospital, and a stand on their health needs, and stresses the importance of families,
their children take care of patients during hypnosis or at home."
Click here to read more »
Latest News
A delegation of members of the General Department of visiting children at a hospital in Qatif
2010-11-29
On the occasion of International Day for the Rights of the Child a delegation of members of the General Department of visiting children
at a hospital in Qatif.
In a humanitarian gesture would enhance the Assembly's attention to children by a delegation from the National Society for Human
Rights to visit the Department of hypnosis children in hospital Qatif Central, where said head of the delegation Engineer, Jafar Shayeb,
"The visit is to raise awareness of the importance of children and pay attention to their rights, and the need for solidarity with the families
of sick children traveling with their children in the hospital, and a stand on their health needs, and stresses the importance of families,
their children take care of patients during hypnosis or at home."
Click here to read more »
September 3, 2010
Saudi Judicial System and Social Reform
Commentary by Dr. Ali Alyami
“War on Terrorism” to Crush Pro Democracy Advocates
Director’s Comment:
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and their unprecedented, far-reaching repercussions domestically and globally, the Saudi
government has embarked on a hunting program ostensibly to catch and incarcerate alleged terrorists and terrorists to be. For this effort,
the Saudi government has been showered with sycophantically praises, specifically from its Western friends and supporters. Famous for
its arbitrary arrests and imprisonment of people without charges and/or trials for months and years, many Saudi citizens and human
rights groups have been raising questions about the extensive waves of arrests, and whether the Saudi government is actually using “War
on Terrorism” to destroy pro-democracy Saudi citizens. "Using the anti-terror campaign has been the conspicuous Saudi policy to arrest
and harass political reformists and human-rights activists," says Mohammed al-Qahtani, co-founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights
Association, which has become the most public face of a maturing national civil-rights movement.
As the attached account indicates, the state’s methods of arbitrary arrests and incarceration remain unaltered. The highly contested case
of prominent pro political reformist “Suliman al-Reshoudi, a 73-year-old former judge turned activist” seems to attest to the fact that the
Saudi judicial system has not changed despite King Abdullah’s royal decrees to modernize the religiously controlled institution. The Saudi
autocratic monarchs consider political activists more dangerous to their control than religious extremists. This is evidenced by the fact
that many extremist clerics are on the government’s payroll.
It might be prudent for the US government, companies and other institutions to reconsider their cooperation with the Saudi government
when dealing with war on terrorism or siding with the Saudi government against its people. The Saudi people are very astute; they could
tell if the West is contributing to their oppression by collaborating with their repressive regime and its institutions, such as the Saudi
Ministry of Interior.
Click here to read more>>
Saudi Judicial System and Social Reform
Commentary by Dr. Ali Alyami
“War on Terrorism” to Crush Pro Democracy Advocates
Director’s Comment:
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and their unprecedented, far-reaching repercussions domestically and globally, the Saudi
government has embarked on a hunting program ostensibly to catch and incarcerate alleged terrorists and terrorists to be. For this effort,
the Saudi government has been showered with sycophantically praises, specifically from its Western friends and supporters. Famous for
its arbitrary arrests and imprisonment of people without charges and/or trials for months and years, many Saudi citizens and human
rights groups have been raising questions about the extensive waves of arrests, and whether the Saudi government is actually using “War
on Terrorism” to destroy pro-democracy Saudi citizens. "Using the anti-terror campaign has been the conspicuous Saudi policy to arrest
and harass political reformists and human-rights activists," says Mohammed al-Qahtani, co-founder of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights
Association, which has become the most public face of a maturing national civil-rights movement.
As the attached account indicates, the state’s methods of arbitrary arrests and incarceration remain unaltered. The highly contested case
of prominent pro political reformist “Suliman al-Reshoudi, a 73-year-old former judge turned activist” seems to attest to the fact that the
Saudi judicial system has not changed despite King Abdullah’s royal decrees to modernize the religiously controlled institution. The Saudi
autocratic monarchs consider political activists more dangerous to their control than religious extremists. This is evidenced by the fact
that many extremist clerics are on the government’s payroll.
It might be prudent for the US government, companies and other institutions to reconsider their cooperation with the Saudi government
when dealing with war on terrorism or siding with the Saudi government against its people. The Saudi people are very astute; they could
tell if the West is contributing to their oppression by collaborating with their repressive regime and its institutions, such as the Saudi
Ministry of Interior.
Click here to read more>>
| Click map for larger view |
| Click flag for Country Report |
Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
King and Prime Minister
since 1 August 2005
King and Prime Minister
since 1 August 2005
Sultan bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud
Heir Apparent and Crown Prince
since 5 January 1928
Heir Apparent and Crown Prince
since 5 January 1928
| TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
Current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for workers from South and Southeast Asia who are subjected to
conditions that constitute involuntary servitude including being subjected to physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages,
confinement, and withholding of passports as a restriction on their movement; domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because
some are confined to the house in which they work unable to seek help; Saudi Arabia is also a destination country for Nigerian,
Yemeni, Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked for forced begging and involuntary servitude as street
vendors; some Nigerian women were reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for commercial sexual exploitation
Tier rating: Tier 3 -Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so; the government continues to lack adequate anti-trafficking laws and, despite evidence of
widespread trafficking abuses, did not report any criminal prosecutions, convictions, or prison sentences for trafficking crimes
committed against foreign domestic workers (2008)
conditions that constitute involuntary servitude including being subjected to physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages,
confinement, and withholding of passports as a restriction on their movement; domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because
some are confined to the house in which they work unable to seek help; Saudi Arabia is also a destination country for Nigerian,
Yemeni, Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked for forced begging and involuntary servitude as street
vendors; some Nigerian women were reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for commercial sexual exploitation
Tier rating: Tier 3 -Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so; the government continues to lack adequate anti-trafficking laws and, despite evidence of
widespread trafficking abuses, did not report any criminal prosecutions, convictions, or prison sentences for trafficking crimes
committed against foreign domestic workers (2008)
Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
King and Prime Minister
since 1 August 2005
King and Prime Minister
since 1 August 2005
Sultan bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud
Deputy Prime Minister
since 1 August 2005
Deputy Prime Minister
since 1 August 2005
Nayif bin Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud
Second Deputy Prime Minister
since 1 August 2005
Second Deputy Prime Minister
since 1 August 2005
