ICC Note: ICC has been waiting on this report from the newly established human rights organization (founded by the government). We will wait to see if it is a total whitewash or if it has any teeth and deals with persecution of Christians. Based on long experience with the Saudi’s we doubt it will have much substance in regards to Christian human rights.
Saudi Arabia Awaits First Human Rights Report
By Turki Al-Saheil
(Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat)- Saudi Arabia is currently awaiting the release of a comprehensive report on the subject of human rights in the kingdom, to be issued by the National Association for Human Rights (NAHR), which is at present finalizing the anticipated report.
Much secrecy has surrounded the report, which is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia . According to primary information provided by NAHR, attempts to soften the tone of the report have been the cause of its delay.
In response to this, Dr Bandar al Hajjar, the president of NAHR told Asharq Al Awsat that the intensity of the language used in the report was the not the reason behind its delay and stated, the report is still under review. He added that details of the report will not be publicized until it has been presented to the organizations nine-member board of executives to discuss the chapters and exchange opinions on the report. Dr Bandar al Hajjar refused to discuss the details of the report, however he underlined that the report would portray the state of human rights in the country based on the associations experience since it was established three years ago.
Al Hajjar stated that a date has not been set for the release of the report that will pass through a number of internal departments before it is open to the public. He added that the association would not submit the report to any governmental or non-governmental bodies to be approved. He told Asharq Al Awsat, According to our system, we are not obliged to submit this report to any governmental or non-government bodies.
The newly-established National Association for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia consists of 40 founding members (30 men and ten women). The organization had suspended the memberships of a number of associates who had been appointed to official state positions, however they have the right to reactivate their memberships as soon as their official posts end. The association also suspended the membership of Abdul Qader Tash who past away recently.
