Saudi Arabia Human Rights

Human Rights Concerns

The push for political reform, occurring simultaneously with an increasingly unsettled security situation, has created a very unpredictable human rights environment. Killings by both government security forces and armed groups occur periodically, either in attacks or shootouts. The pardon and release of prominent reform advocates by King Abdullah may signal a more consistent support for reform, but torture and ill-treatment persist, as do incommunicado detention, prolonged detention without charge, and unfair trials.

There are still scores of political prisoners and possible prisoners of conscience. Saudi Arabia continues to use flogging and amputations as punishments. Executions, beheadings with a sword, occur regularly and are disproportionately carried out against foreign nationals. Foreign workers are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, particularly female domestic workers, who have virtually no protection at all. About 600 Iraqis remain stranded in Rafha refugee camp since the 1991 Gulf War, denied the opportunity to seek asylum in Saudi Arabia. Read more »

Fear of Imminent Execution: Khalid ‘Abdul Karim al-Mahamid

A man who was jailed for drug smuggling has had his sentence increased to death, and could be executed at any time. Khalid al-Mahamid was arrested in Jeddah in April 2006, and charged with drug smuggling. In March 2007 the Jeddah General Court sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment and 2,000 lashes. However, in April 2009, after the Court of Cassation had considered the verdict and returned the case for review, the Jeddah General Court upheld his conviction and increased his sentence to death. For a sample letter, click here.  For more information, click here.

Help Prevent the Execution of a Juvenile in Saudi Arabia
Domestic worker Rizana Nafeek was sentenced to death in Saudi Arabis for a murder committed while she was just 17 years old. Saudi Arabia is a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which expressly prohibits the execution of offenders for crimes committed when they were under 18 years old. Rizana Nafeek is believed to have appealed against her sentence, but if her appeal is unsuccessful she could be executed within days. » More actions

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