Saudi Arabia is committed to respecting human rights within the purview of the UN and as mandated by the Islamic Shariah that protects and cherishes such rights, Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Iban, president of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, said at a UN review of the Kingdom’s human rights track record in Geneva on Monday.

Al-Iban, who led the Saudi delegation, said the country had made remarkable progress in advancing and protecting established human rights since its first such review in 2009.

As inspired by the Shariah, Saudi Arabia’s basic law of governance is based on the principles of justice and equality to protect rights, ensure basic freedom, provide social insurance and public services such as health care, free education and enforce fair labor laws, he said, adding that the Saudi judiciary was independent with a healthy respect for human rights.

Al-Iban recalled King Abdullah’s address during this Haj season in which he reiterated that the Kingdom was committed to protecting human rights as inspired by Islamic teachings since its foundation, striking a unique balance between Islamic obligations and positive human experience.

Asserting that Saudi laws do not discriminate against women, he said women enjoy full citizenship rights. Allegations to the contrary stem from lack of understanding of Islam and local traditions, he said, and pointed out that women accounted for 20 percent of the Shoura’s strength.

On the issue of labor rights of over nine million expat work force in the Kingdom, Al-Iban said Saudi Arabia had passed a package of laws and international agreements to protect labor rights. He cited the law which bans labor activity under the sun from June through August to buttress his point.

He said Saudi Arabia has been a generous donor to many human rights organizations, including the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the UN Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery and the UN Fund for Indigenous Populations, which only goes to prove that the Kingdom respected human rights.

Al-Iban’s defense followed the usual and perennial attack against Saudi Arabia on human rights by Western diplomats.