This is despite the insistence of Abdul Rahman Al-Dahmash, chairman of the general committee for the elections at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, that the NSHR will monitor the polls. He made the claims at the Jeddah Development and Urban Regeneration Company on Monday.

However, the society in a statement to Arab News on Tuesday refuted Al-Dahmash’s claims.

The society said there had been no change in its position regarding its involvement in the elections.

“The executive council of the society in its 22nd meeting held recently discussed the invitation to the NSHR to supervise the elections and we decided to decline because a section of society was prevented from voting and becoming candidates,” the statement said.

The society, however, reiterated that all its offices would remain open to receive and follow up complaints about violations of human rights, whether in the elections or anywhere else.

Al-Dhamash considered participation in the municipal elections a national duty. He said the dissatisfaction of citizens about the performance of the municipal councils was unfounded.

"Around 70 percent of council decisions were implemented and 19 percent are being executed," he said.