JEDDAH, 4 October 2005 — Turki ibn Khaled Al-Sudairi, who previously worked as a state minister and Cabinet member for eight years, has been appointed chairman of the Human Rights Commission, an independent rights watchdog recently set up by the government. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah made the appointment by royal decree, the Saudi Press Agency said, adding that Sudairi would have the rank of a minister.
The Cabinet approved the new human rights commission, which will be under the supervision of the prime minister (the king) on Sept. 12, 2005. The body is directed to “protect human rights and create awareness about them ... in keeping with the provisions of Islamic law,” SPA said.
The commission’s board will include at least 18 full-time members and six part-time members, SPA added. The king will name the board members for a four-year renewable term.
