The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has urged government authorities to reconsider imprisoning people who owe private debts. The society pointed to an international agreement that prevents imprisonment of such debtors.
Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper said its sources claimed more than 5,000 prisoners have case pending in Jeddah, of which 2,800 are in debtors.
Mufleh Al-Qahtani, president of NSHR, said creditors should seize debtors’ properties instead.
He added: “Imprisoning debtors for a long time and bringing them before judges periodically does not benefit them or their creditors.”
“Selling a debtor's properties should be enough to pay his debts, but in cases when it is not, he should be working to pay them off, not stuck in jail.”
Al-Qahtani said not all debtors have committed fraud and people should differentiate between debtors who are simply unable to pay up and fraudsters.
He added: “Imprisoning debtors will cost them their jobs and lead to worse consequences for their families.
“Authorities should define regulations for such debtors that can specify which of their assets can be sold to pay off debts or ensure they are free to work them off.”
Ahmed Al-Atawi, member of the Shoura Council, considered the imprisonment of debtors as a violation of human rights. He added: “Imprisoning the debtor could also have a knock-on effect on other innocent people.”
Al-Atawi pointed out that even after paying off his debts, a debtor would have to live with the fact he would have a criminal record with the authorities for a long time.
Al-Atawi said a draft law of 33 articles is going to be discussed in the Shoura Council and the Cabinet will decide on whether to approve it later.
He said this law is an important judicial development that will clarify the defendant's rights and as well as the plaintiff’s.
