“The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) and government departments cooperate and foster mutual understanding and trust in their efforts to protect human rights,” said general supervisor of the NSHR’s Makkah branch Suleiman Al-Zayedi, who is also a member of the Shoura Council.
Al-Zayedi said one of NSHR’s latest reports described the unsatisfactory work of certain government departments in the service of Makkah citizens. It submitted the report to Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.
“Prince Khaled sent a circular to the departments referred to in the report, ordering them to find immediate solutions to the complaints and provide feedback to him within 30 days,” Al-Zayedi added.
He thanked the prince for accepting the report, adding that the governor’s favorable treatment of the report was a morale booster for NSHR workers and acted as a catalyst to double their efforts in serving the people.
He said the NSHR recently wrote a report on the negligent treatment of mentally ill people wandering on the streets.
Another NSHR report forced authorities to take steps to improve unhygienic conditions in prisons housing foreign deportees.
Another report was on the poor condition of orphanages in Makkah and the need to improve them.
Al-Zayedi said the NSHR set up a team to monitor Haj services during the last season. The team prepared a report on the positive and negative aspects of the services offered by government and private organizations.
While the team noted positive points such as doubled efforts to improve safety and comfort for pilgrims, it found that much more needed to be done to improve hygiene and the local environment.
He also pointed out that the Shoura Council was prompted to study existing regulations on Saudis marrying non-Saudis following a demand by the NSHR for the protection of all parties’ rights.
