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Human Rights First Society
Dedicated to Protecting and Defending Human Rights in Saudi Arabia
“Human rights conditions remain poor in Saudi Arabia. International and domestic pressure to implement human rights reforms have considerably weakened and the government undertook no major reforms in 2007. Curbs on freedom of association and expression, unfair trials, arbitrary detention, mistreatment and torture of detainees, restrictions on freedom of movement, and lack of official accountability remain serious concerns. Saudi law and policies discriminate against women, foreign workers, and religious minorities, especially Shia and Ismaili Saudis.” (from HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH January 2008 Country Summary)
Human Rights First Society (HRFS) serves a very important function working as a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Saudi Arabia to monitor reported human rights abuses and advocate for the victims. HRFS uses all peaceful means to advocate that the Saudi government respects and defends all human rights.
***URGENT***
Saudi Arabia: Incommunicado detention/Fear of torture and
other ill-treatment: Dr Matrouk al-Faleh
20 May 2008
Dr. Matrouk al-Faleh, an academic and human rights activist,was arrested in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, on 19 May 2008. He is held incommunicado at the General Investigation (al-Mabahith al-‘Amma) and is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.
The Saudi Arabian authorities regularly hold detainees incommunicado, at which time they are at risk of being tortured and otherwise ill-treated. Critics of the state are routinely detained indefinitely without charge or trial. Defendants are often denied the right to formal representation by a lawyer and in many cases they and their families are not informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them. Due to the high level of secrecy of the Saudi Arabian justice system, trials are invariably held behind closed doors. In the rare instances when individuals are charged and brought to trial, the proceedings invariably fail to meet the most elementary standards of fairness.
By Sabah Abdul Hadi ~ Saudi Gazette ~ April 17, 2008
DAMMAM - A national conference of all activists and human rights workers is being called for to serve as a platform for them to meet, discuss, exchange views, and share experiences on human rights issues.