Saudi rights group presses for reforms

Mar 15, 2011

RIYADH — A rights group close to the Saudi government on Tuesday called for political reforms in the conservative monarchy, including expanding popular participation and fighting corruption.

The National Society for Human Rights urged the government to forge ahead with King Abdullah's vision for political reform, including electing some members of the Shura (Consultative) Council, which is currently appointed.

It called for the creation of an authority to battle corruption, implementing a strategy that has already been approved by the government of the oil-rich kingdom.

It also called for "strengthening the independence of the judiciary," protecting judges against interference and holding erring judges to account in order to boost human rights.

Saudi Arabia has a unique judiciary system based on a hardline interpretation of Islamic text that is often criticized for not guaranteeing defendants a proper channel for defense.

The society also called for implementing a penal code to guarantee that prisoners who have completed their terms are freed immediately and "security detainees" are allowed to contact their relatives.

Three other human rights organizations operate in Saudi Arabia -- two of which are independent and normally express free and liberal opinions while the third is pro-government.

Calls for reform in the oil-rich kingdom have gained momentum amid sweeping Arab unrest that has already toppled the Tunisian and Egyptian presidents.

But calls by cyber activists for street protests last Friday failed to secure any support amid unprecedented security clampdown in the capital Riyadh and other cities.

Last month, more than 100 Saudi academics, activists and businessmen called for the establishment of a "constitutional monarchy" and the election of the whole Shura Council.

They also called for expanded participation of women in social and political life in the ultra-conservative monarchy.

In an apparent bid to keep his citizens happy, King Abdullah last month announced a boost in social benefits for Saudis, including a 15 percent pay rise for state employees and an increase in cash available for housing loans.

The package, worth an estimated $36 billion (26 billion euros), is mostly aimed at youth, civil servants and the unemployed.

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