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 »
Protect Prisoners of Conscience from Torture in Saudi Arabia (UA 14/09)
Khaled al-'Omair and Mohammed al-'Otaibi remain in detention and are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. They were detained in Saudi Arabia after demonstrating against Israel's military action in Gaza.
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
Latest News
Saudi Arabia must prevent flogging of teenage girlJanuary 22, 2010
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia Must Not Flog 75-Year-Old Woman
December 15, 2009
Saudi Arabia: Death Sentences Over Saudi 'Sorcery' Claims
December 10, 2009
Saudi Arabia/Yemen: Saudi Arabian and Yemeni Forces Must Protect Civilians in Sa'da Conflict
November 11, 2009
Saudi Arabia: Foreign Nationals on Death Row in Saudi Arabia
November 06, 2009
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia Executes Three More Foreign Nationals
November 05, 2009
Latest Reports
Vital UN human rights work under threatMay 09, 2007
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: Women deserve dignity and respect
May 10, 2005
Women, violence and health
February 17, 2005
Saudi Arabia: Women's exclusion from elections undermines progress
November 16, 2004
