JEDDAH, 17 September 2007 — Dr. Bandar Al-Hajjar, chairman of the National Society for Human Rights, has expressed his dismay at the lukewarm response by Saudi agencies to a report published by his organization last May on the human rights situation in the country.
However, Al-Hajjar pointed out that a number of foreign ambassadors had visited the society after the report’s publication in order to praise the work and the level of freedom enjoyed by the organization in taking up human rights issues. International rights bodies also praised the report.
“Unfortunately we have not received any positive or negative comments from government agencies in the Kingdom,” Al-Hajjar told Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News. At the same time, he expressed his satisfaction at the increasing cooperation of government agencies with the society.
He said the report had strengthened the Kingdom’s position as a member of the Geneva-based International Human Rights Committee. “I believe that the Saudi delegation on the committee will not face embarrassment like before as a result of the publication of the report. Earlier, the committee members always questioned Saudi Arabia for not having any human rights organization.”
Al-Hajjar emphasized that the authority to impose ban on travel must be vested with judicial authorities, not executive bodies, adding that the period of such bans must be specified. “The person who is banned from traveling must be given the right to appeal if the ban is not lifted even after completing the term,” he pointed out.
He attributed the delay in completing judicial procedures to a shortage in the number of judges. Defendants must be allowed to appoint lawyers to defend their cases. “If they are not given this right, it will be a violation of the law,” he added.
Al-Hajjar said his human rights society was also concerned with environment issues and had contacted Saudi Telecom Co. to study the effect of mobile towers on public health. “We will also take up the issues of a sewage network as well as chemical waste.”
The NSHR chief favored the establishment of more civil groups in order to enhance public awareness of human rights. The Shoura Council is currently studying a new law related to civil societies.
Al-Hajjar stressed the need for changing the rules and regulations of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice to make it like other organizations in the country and make them comply with international agreements.
“When we call for change, it means change in accordance with the teachings of Islam and to comply with agreements that do not go against the Shariah,” he added.
Asked whether the society would take a position in support of women being allowed to travel without a male relative, Al-Hajjar answered: “The issue of having a male relative for the travel of woman is a Shariah requirement. We cannot take up this matter. Saudi Arabia is not committed to implement any agreement that goes against Shariah. If the Shariah wants a male relative to be present with a woman when she travels, we will support it.”
Al-Hajjar also spoke about the rights of Saudi citizens to participate in politics. “We now have national dialogue and elections to municipal councils, chambers and other bodies. All these are positive developments. What is required is that citizens should be given greater roles in the administration of their society and country. The best way for this is through elections and dialogue.”
Al-Hajjar said the society had written a letter to the investigation department asking to visit their jails. “But we have not yet received any reply,” he said.
The society’s officials have so far visited nearly 30 jails in the country and observed both positive and negative aspects there. The society’s report criticized poor health services in the country, especially at health centers attached to prisons, emergency rooms of some hospitals and recurrent medical errors committed by doctors and nurses at certain private hospitals. “We made the report on the basis of field inspections,” he explained.
