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March 12, 2004 |
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THE CROWN PRINCE: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WILL RECEIVE ALL THE SUPPORT FROM THE PARTIES CONCERNED. PRINCE BANDAR IBN SULTAN: THE MEASURE IS A STEP IN THE WAY OF CONTINUOUS REFORMS COVERING DIFFERENT FIELDS IN THE KINGDOM. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has approved the set up of the National Society for Human Rights. In a reply cable to the Society's Head Dr. Abdullah Ibn Salih Al-Obaid and founding members, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz said that the set up of the society is approved since the governing statute states that the constitution of the Kingdom depends on the Holy Quran and Sunnah (Prophet's traditions) and since Sharia includes the protection and preservation of rights. The King wished the society all success. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques noted that he reviewed the cable indicating the set up of the society and its request for permission to practice works. King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz also reviewed the society's clarification that it will depend in its activities on the Holy Quran and Sunnah and will help in the achievement of Article 26th of the governing statute stating that the government protects human rights in accordance with Sharia. Earlier, the Head of the Society and founding members sent a cable to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz in which they said they decided to set up the society and they requested permission for practicing its works. They stressed that the society will depend in its activities on the Holy Quran and Sunnah and will help in the achievement of Article 26th of the governing statute stating that the government protects human rights in accordance with Sharia. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the announcement of the birth of Saudi Arabia's first human rights advocate, Dr. Abdullah Ibn Salih Al-Obaid, the Chairman of the Riyadh-based National Society for Human Rights, said the organization emanates from the rulings of the holy Qur'an and the Prophet's deeds and sayings as well as the statute of the rule of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The main domain of the independent organization is the protection of human rights, he said. Al-Obaid announced the names of the 42-member constitutional assembly, including several doctorate degree holders and ten females. An elected nine-member Executive Council, chaired by Dr. Alobaid, also included three females. Saudi Arabia officially approved the recently-established human rights watchdog, the first in the Kingdom, and pledged its support for the 41-member organization. "I received a letter from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, in which he approved our request to set up the organization," Dr. Abdullah Al-Obaid, President of the National Human Rights Association said. "The NHRA's main task will be the protection of human rights," Al-Obaid said, adding that the Riyadh-based organization would work in accordance with Shariah and the country's Basic Governing System. Al-Obaid, a member of the consultative Shoura Council, and other members of the association earlier met with Crown Prince Abdullah, Deputy Prime Minister and commander of the National Guard, who also gave his blessing to the organization. "The Crown Prince told us we would receive all the support we need from the parties concerned," the AFP news agency quoted Al-Obaid as saying. Political science professor Abdul Khalek Abdul Hay, one of about 20 who met Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, said the group had explained its covenant to the crown prince, "who wished us success in our task." Noura Al-Jomaih, one of the 10 female members, said last week that redressing the injustices inflicted on Saudi women would be high on the association's agenda. The Kingdom has announced plans to set up a government rights body as part of its ongoing political reforms. The association's bylaws permit it to open branch offices abroad. It will also cooperate with international rights organizations and stand against injustice, despotism, violence, torture and intolerance. "It will receive complaints related to human rights violations and pursue them with related agencies," the bylaw states. It will also present its views and proposals to government agencies to protect human rights. The association's members are: Dr. Ibrahim Al-Qaeed, Dr. Abubakar Baqader, Dr. Ahmad Saifuddin Turkistani, Dr. Ahmad Yahya Al-Bahkali, Ismail Sajeeni, Dr. Bandar Al-Hejar, Dr. Baheeja Baha Ezzi, Suraya bint Abid Sheikh, Dr. Jowhara Al-Anqari, Dr. Habeeb Al-Motairy, Hejab ibn Muhammad Al-Hazimi, Dr. Hussein Al-Sharief, Dr. Hamad Al-Majed, Dr. Khaled Al-Hamoud, Dr. Rashid Al-Mubarak, Dr. Saad Al-Ghamdi, Dr. Suhaila Zainul Abideen Hammad, Dr. Saleh Al-Shuraida, Dr. Saleh Al-Khathlan, Dr. Abdul Jaleel Al-Saif, Dr. Abdul Khalek Abdul Hay, Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Qadeb, Dr. Abdul Qader Tash, Abdul Mohsen Al-Akkas, Dr. Abdullah Al-Laheedan, Abdullah Abu Al-Samh, Dr. Othman Al-Rawwaf, Dr. Ali Al-Hekami, Dr. Omar Hafez, Dr. Mufleh Al-Qahtani, Dr. Lubna bint Abdul Rahman Al-Ansari, Dr. Muhammad Al-Fadel, Dr. Muhammad Al-Aufi, Dr. Muhammad Al-Qarri, Noura bint Hamad Al-Jomaih, Noura bint Abdul Rahman Al-Yousuf, Dr. Noura bint Abdullah Al-Ajlan, Dr. Hana bint Muhammad Al-Mutlak, and Dr. Wafa Mahmoud Taiba. The association's nine-member executive council members are: Abdullah Al-Obaid (president), Bandar Al-Hejar (vice president), Ibrahim Al-Qaeed, Abubakar Baqader, Ahmad Bahkali, Jowhara Al-Anqari, Suhaila Hammad, Abdul Khalek Abdul Hay and Lubna Al-Ansari. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received at Al-Yamamah palace Dr. Abdullah Ibn Salih Al-Obaid, the Head of National Society for Human Rights and members of the society on the occasion of its foundation. The audience was attended by Prince Dr. Bandar Ibn Salman Ibn Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor at the Crown Prince's Court and other officials. The National Human Rights Association (NHRA) will fight injustice and despotism without any partiality or favoritism, said NHRA President Dr. Abdullah Al-Obaid. He made the statement after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd gave official approval to the 41-member organization, the Kingdom's first human rights watchdog. In a message to Dr. Al-Obaid, King Fahd described the formation of the association, which is based on Shariah and the Kingdom's basic system of government, as an "appropriate step" and wished it every success. The NHRA also has the backing of Crown Prince Abdullah, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard. "The Crown Prince told the association's members when he met them last Tuesday that the NHRA would receive all support and care like any other government agency," the President said. "All government departments will cooperate with the association so that it can achieve its objectives and work for the protection of human rights," he quoted the Crown Prince as telling the association members. There are 10 women academics in the association and Dr. Al-Obaid said it reflected the growing role of women within the NHRA to monitor rights violations against women in the Kingdom. "We will cooperate with all organizations, including Amnesty International," Al-Madinah Arabic daily quoted Dr. Al-Obaid as saying. The NHRA will also ensure that Saudi Arabia "abides by its commitments on human rights issues on the basis of the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, the UN Charter and international human rights covenants," according to the organization's bylaws. Dr. Al-Obaid, a former Secretary-General of the Makkah-based Muslim World League, said the organization would conduct a study on the human rights situation in the Kingdom in light of international covenants. The NHRA will receive complaints related to human rights violations and pursue them with related agencies. It will also present its views and proposals to government agencies in order to protect human rights. The group will "stand against injustice, arbitrariness, violence, torture and intolerance" and will "protect the confidentiality of approaches, requests, complaints, information, files and correspondence." Revenues will come from publications, exhibitions, future investments, donations, grants "and any other resources that are not at variance with the association's objectives." The association, comprising a General Assembly and a nine-member Executive Council, will be based in Riyadh but can set up branches in other parts of the Kingdom and abroad. Dr. Othman Al-Rawwaf, a member, said the association was committed to achieving its goals. "We will make sure that all regulations for the protection of human rights are followed," he said. Abdul Mohsen Al-Akkas, another member, spoke of the association's limitations. "The NHRA is not an executive or judicial body to issue rules and decisions. It's only an organization concerned with human rights in the Kingdom." He refuted allegations that the association was established as a result of foreign pressure. "We called for such an organization about six years ago. Those who say that it was established due to foreign pressure are unaware of the Kingdom's cultural development," he pointed out. Dr. Suhaila Zainul Abidine, a female member of the NHRA's executive council, said the protection of human rights was essential for social reforms. She said women members would play an active role in the organization. "Reforms must emerge from within our country. We will not allow any foreigner to interfere in our internal matters. We know best how to reform our society," she said. Dr. Hana Al-Mutlak, another female member, said she would focus on the rights of women and children. Dr. Saleh Al-Shuraida, a member, said the association would play a supervisory role in preventing rights violations. "It will have the right to enter prisons and detention centers and look into people's grievances," he said. He said Saudis were looking forward to the organization with great expectations. "The Kingdom has good regulations but the problem is that some of them are not implemented properly and the association will focus on this," he said. Dr. Ahmad Saifuddin Turkistani, a university professor, emphasized the need to make the protection of human rights an integral part of society. "The culture of protecting the rights of others must prevail in all our dealings," he added. Dr. Abdul Qader Tash, another member, said it was premature to discuss details of the association's fieldwork. He pointed out, however, that the NHRA would work to enlighten the public about human rights through the media. 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 Ibn 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 Ibn Abdul Aziz, 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 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. Commenting on the set up of Saudi Arabia's first human rights non-governmental society, Prince Bandar said the measure was a step in the way of continuous reforms covering different fields in the Kingdom. He cited several reforms over the last two years covering economic, educational and political fields. For the first time, Saudi Arabia has established a non-governmental human rights organization to uphold the basic rights guaranteed to its citizens. The National Human Rights Association (NHRA), which will implement international human rights charters signed by Saudi Arabia, will also include a special panel to monitor violations of women's rights. The NHRA consists of 41 members who will work with international human rights organizations and issue periodic reports on the progress of human rights in Saudi Arabia. Ambassador to the United States Prince Bandar Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz stated: "The establishment of this human rights organization is just another step in Saudi Arabia's integrated reform program. Institutions such as these are the foundation for successful and lasting reforms." The formation of the NHRA follows on the heels of the first-ever human rights conference in Saudi Arabia which was held in Riyadh last October. There is already a human rights committee at the Consultative Council, Saudi Arabia's 120-member advisory body. Another government-run human rights body will soon be established, and it will work to implement government decisions regarding human rights. Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has embarked upon a comprehensive economic, educational, and political reform agenda to promote a vibrant economy and broader civic and political participation of our citizens. In May 2003, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal announced the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz's approval for the establishment of an independent human rights organization in Saudi Arabia. In October 2003, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia held a human rights conference entitled 'Human Rights in Peace and War'. The conference concluded with the issuance of the 'Riyadh Declaration' which states that respect for human life and dignity is the foundation of human rights; that a human being deserves respect, regardless of race, color or sex; that violation of human rights is a crime deserving severe punishment; that to hold a human being in custody without legal basis is forbidden by Islamic laws; that disregard for privacy and property rights is a violation of human rights; and that tolerance of faith is required by Islam, which also prohibits coercing people to follow a certain religion. |
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