JEDDAH, 3 March 2004 — The first independent human rights organization has been established in Saudi Arabia. The organization consists of 41 male and female members, including journalists, and includes a special panel to monitor rights violations against women.
The organization held its first meeting at the Shoura Council headquarters in Riyadh last Thursday and chose Dr. Abdullah ibn Saleh Al-Obaid, former secretary-general of the Muslim World League and member of the Shoura, as chairman.
Dr. Bandar Al-Hejar was selected vice chairman of the National Human Rights Association (NHRA), which includes 10 women. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, the meeting also appointed a nine-member executive body and asked the government to license the organization which aims to reinforce the concept of human rights in Saudi society and stand against injustice, despotism, intolerance and torture.
The organization will also follow up the implementation of international human rights charters signed by Saudi Arabia, including the charters of the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Arab League.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal has said that the organization would be completely independent. “It will not be under anyone’s control,” he added. He denied the rights body was set up “under external pressure,” saying the idea was first suggested three years ago.
There will be another, government-run human rights body, the prince said, adding that each organization 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.
Informed sources said the new rights association would work to protect human rights in the Kingdom without violating the Shariah. The association will function in accordance with the Basic System of Governance and other Saudi laws. “It will also cooperate with international human rights organizations and issue reports on the progress of human rights in the country,” the Arabic daily said, quoting the sources.
The association has set up four committees to deal with culture and publication; research and studies; observation and follow-up; and family. “The last one is significant as it will monitor rights violations against women,” the sources said.
The association includes Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, Abdullah Abou Alsamh, Ahmad Saifuddin Turkistani, Suhaila Zain Al-Abidine Hammad, Hana Al-Mutlak, Abdul Mohsen Al-Akkas, Saad Al-Ghamdi, Suraya Abid Sheikh, Jowhara Al-Anqari, Wafa Mahmoud Taiba, Noura Al-Jomaih, Noura Al-Yousuf, Lubna Abdul Rahman Al-Ansari, Othman Al-Rawaf and Noura Al-Ajlan.
The formation of the association 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 Shoura 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 Shoura’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.
