On the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, and under the title Victims of Torture in Saudi Arabia: Forgotten Stories Behind the Celebrations, the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights held a webinar on June 26, 2023.
The conference was moderated by the senior researcher of the organization, Duaa Dhainy, and the researcher of the MENA Organization for Human Rights, Falah Sayed, the researcher and expert in international advocacy from the Reprieve organization, Zaki Sarraf, in addition to the legal director of the organization, Taha Alhajji.
Dhainy opened the conference by pointing out that the modern world is trying to establish a legal and practical framework for human rights, through which states impose international legal obligations on themselves, including the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel and Inhuman Treatment. She explained that Saudi Arabia ratified this convention in 1997, and therefore it has become obligated to criminalize torture in law and practice. However, unfortunately, despite the passage of 26 years since this ratification, Saudi Arabia still practices torture on a large scale.
Dhainy considered that Saudi Arabia suppressed civil society to the extent that it became impossible for there to be a fundamental activity for human rights defenders, male and female defenders, which coincided with suppression of society and intimidation of families and victims, as Saudi Arabia criminalizes communication with non-governmental organizations abroad, and with the media, and punishes any content that speaks Through which individuals report the violations that occur, including torture. She explained that the reality is darker, as the cases of the tortured in prisons are difficult to access, while the torturers and violators are protected in law and practice from any actual and real accountability in light of the rampant policy of impunity.
She considered that Saudi Arabia is working to wash the real picture and pay billions for it. This includes sports, academic and diplomatic laundering. She believed that today's world hears about the huge sports deals carried out by Saudi Arabia, sees the dazzling celebrations that the government organizes and hosts world-famous people through, awaits financial deals and large projects, and does not hear about the stories of minors threatened with execution, nor of women who have become victims of torture in recent years. In an unprecedented way, nor the young men who are arrested and subjected to torture, which often leads to psychological trauma and physical effects that are difficult to get rid of, nor do we hear the stories of foreign workers who are subjected to enforced disappearance and various types of violations, without anyone asking about them or hearing about them.
International advocacy expert and researcher at Reprieve, Zaki Sarraf, confirmed that the death penalty is closely linked to torture in Saudi Arabia. Sarraf mentioned several cases in which the organization worked and documented instances of detainees being subjected to torture. He pointed to the case of the minor Mustafa al-Darwish, who was executed in 2020, and explained that al-Darwish testified before the judge about being tortured and forced to confess. Despite that, no investigation was conducted into his claims, and he was executed on charges that were mostly obtained when he was a minor.
Sarraf also spoke about Hussein Abu al-Khair, a Jordanian citizen who was executed by Saudi Arabia in March 2023. He noted that Abu Al-Khair repeatedly denied the charges against him in court and affirmed that they were extracted from him under torture. No investigation was conducted into this matter either, nor into the effects of torture on him.
Sarraf pointed to the case of the minor Abdullah al-Darazi, who is currently sentenced to death, and explained that al-Darazi suffered burns and dental fractures as a result of torture, and he was admitted to the hospital due to the torture he endured. During the trial, he confirmed that the officer brought ready-made confessions for him to sign. Despite that, his case is now before the Supreme Court, and he is at risk of being executed at any moment.
Sarraf considered that Saudi Arabia believes it has immunity from accountability, but our experience confirms the importance of continuing to shed light on its violations. He emphasized that human rights organizations have succeeded in some cases in bringing about change by utilizing the mechanisms of the United Nations, and the international community, and advocating for the victims in front of the world to pressure countries to take action against Saudi Arabia.
Sarraf stressed that attempts by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to divert attention from human rights issues through hosting sports events do not change the fact that torture is systematic and ongoing, as confirmed even by UN reports.
Falah Sayed, a researcher from the MENA Organization, confirmed that Saudi Arabia systematically uses torture to silence activists or anyone who attempts to dissent. She explained that criminal laws do not define the nature of torture or legislate its prohibition, nor do they impose clear punishments on violators.
Sayed stated that the data indicates that minors who are threatened with execution have had confessions forcibly extracted from them under torture, and despite this, judges relied on these confessions to issue their verdicts. Despite these facts, the international community does not exert sufficient pressure.
She pointed out that international law prohibits extraditing individuals to countries that practice torture, yet countries continue to extradite their citizens to Saudi Arabia, knowing that they will inevitably be subjected to torture. She mentioned the case of Hassan al-Rabea, who was handed over by Morocco to Saudi Arabia, where he was subjected to enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention.
Sayed listed the mechanisms that can be utilized at the international level, including the Committee Against Torture, special rapporteurs, and the European Court of Human Rights, which can help prevent the extradition of individuals. She also highlighted the mechanisms of international justice that now allow for holding violators accountable anywhere in the world. Despite the political considerations that hinder the prosecution of violators, advocacy and accumulated work can lead to results.
Afterwards, Dhainy announced the launch of the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights book titled "Training on Documenting Torture in Saudi Arabia." Following a promotional video about the book, the organization's legal director, Taha Alhajji, spoke about it.
Alhajji indicated that over the past years, the organization has worked on documenting hundreds of cases of torture in Saudi Arabia. Despite the difficulties and obstacles faced in doing so, they have found ways to accomplish it.
He emphasized the importance of documenting torture as a response to Saudi Arabia's repeated claims regarding the ban on torture, using documents, information, and names. It is crucial in countering attempts to distort facts and advocating for victims through various means, such as complaints, media, and supporting defenders internally while affirming their voice internationally. Additionally, it involves seeking to activate specialized international mechanisms.
Considering that Saudi Arabia is a country that tries to close all avenues for accessing information, victims, and their families, the European Saudi Organization attempted to compile the essence of their recent years' experience into a book that enables any citizen to contribute to documenting torture. Alhajji explained that the book illustrates how to gather evidence and information through court judgments and documents, methods of interviewing victims and their techniques, as well as analyzing information and utilizing it in report writing, filing complaints, and more.
Alhajji regarded the book as providing some advice regarding digital security, given Saudi Arabia's attempts to use technology against human rights defenders and any human rights activities. This advice aims to prevent possible breaches that could threaten the safety and freedom of individuals involved in documenting torture and violations.
He concluded that documenting torture and violations is of utmost importance, and every citizen can participate in it and defend the victims. Every story deserves to be told, and every victim deserves to be defended. Torture and mistreatment, in all their forms, are crimes.