At the UN Human Rights Council, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia claimed that its judges have provided all those charged with terrorism their rights guaranteed by Islamic law and international human rights conventions.
During the discussion of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and basic freedoms in the context of countering terrorism, at the HRC’s 43rd session, Saudi Arabia’s representative advanced substantially incorrect information about what he described as fair and public trials.
In its statement, Saudi Arabia claimed a desire to apply tolerance, brotherhood, and fairness in its trials, while rejecting extremism and violence, fighting terrorism, and preserving the right to a defense.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia stated that it plays an active and influential role in countering terrorism by taking necessary measures, including security and intellectual responses, while recognizing the importance of committing to the protection and promotion of human rights. The statement spoke of the establishment of the Ideological Warfare Center, which is tasked with confronting the roots of extremism and terrorism, promoting proper understandings of Islam, and inoculating young people against extremism through preventive and remediation programs.
ESOHR stresses that the Saudi government continues to hide behind the counterterrorism argument to justify major violations, particularly those against activists and human right advocates. Despite the criticisms of its judicial system and terrorism laws, Saudi Arabia has not amended them to guarantee fair trials or end the misuse of these laws. ESOHR notes that Saudi Arabia has ignored international letters and reports and proceeded to execute individuals tried in the terrorism court, often on charges related to participation in demonstrations and the exercise of fundamental rights, despite the request for a retrial from the Special Rapporteur on counterterrorism in his prior report.
With respect to the claim of combatting extremism, Saudi Arabia continues to arrest clerics and those calling for reform, such as researcher Hassan Farhan al-Maliki, because they expressed their religious opinions. In addition, the judiciary continues to use strict and extreme religious interpretations when issuing sentences or to demand the death penalty through the public prosecutor.
ESOHR contends that the Saudi government’s claims at the HRC are belied by the facts. While the government touts the counterterrorism law and the Specialized Criminal Court as achievements, the facts confirm that these two tools are the foremost tools of oppression and human rights violations in the country. According to the legal analysis of an international expert, the counterterrorism law dropped what little remained of human rights and failed to adhere to international standards. Furthermore, ESOHR documents have confirmed Saudi Arabia’s violation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, whose most significant principle is guaranteeing the rule of law and respect for human rights as the two main pillars of counterterrorism.
Saudi Arabia’s rhetoric here is merely an attempt to obscure the facts, especially regarding its misuse of counterterrorism laws and the promotion of what it calls counterextremism.