Amnesty slams Saudi rights violations under King Salman

Amnesty International has criticized Saudi Arabia over its grim human rights record, arguing that widespread violations continue unabated in the oil-rich country even though a new king has taken the helm of the absolute monarchy.

“Any hopes that the arrival of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud might herald an improvement in human rights in Saudi Arabia have been crushed,” Amnesty International’s Director of Middle East and North Africa Program Philip Luther said on Friday.

He further criticized the Saudi ruler for his failure to improve the country’s “abysmal human rights record,” adding that King Salman “has presided over an ongoing crackdown on government critics and peaceful activists, who continue to be intimidated, arbitrarily detained and treated as criminals.”

Salman was crowned as the king of Saudi Arabia on January 23, 2015, following the death of his half brother, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, at the age of 90.

Luther also highlighted the “unprecedented wave of executions” during the first months of King Salman’s rein, saying this is “a clear signal that the use of the death penalty is thriving in the Kingdom.” 

“King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud must acknowledge that no true reform or positive human rights change will come about if the authorities do not listen to and embrace peaceful activists and reformists. Under his reign an environment must be established where freedom is not a dirty word and Saudi Arabia’s people are able to exercise their basic rights without fear, intimidation or punishment,” Luther pointed out.

He said, “Saudi Arabia’s authorities must stop using counter-terrorism laws to prosecute peaceful human rights activists as ‘terrorists’. Failing to do so will only sow the seeds of further unrest within the Kingdom.”

The right to freedom of expression is severely restricted across Saudi Arabia, establishment of a human rights organization is still banned, peaceful gatherings of activists in public places remain outlawed, and the justice system is also deeply flawed, according to Amnesty International. 

According to rights groups, Saudi Arabia has one of the highest execution rates in the world. The kingdom has witnessed a spike in the number of executions since King Salman ascended to the throne in January.

The Riyadh regime has carried out 73 executions so far this year. This is while there were 87 executions in the kingdom throughout 2014. 

Muslim clerics have also slammed Riyadh for indicting and then executing suspects without giving them a chance to defend themselves, describing the Saudi authorities as uncivilized.

The country has also been repeatedly criticized over its driving ban on woman. Saudi authorities have defied calls by international rights groups to lift the ban, which has been described as violations of women’s rights in the kingdom, where elections have been historically rare.

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