Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH305
2006-04-18 11:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
SAUDI ARABIA: SOP FOR QUESTIONING FEMALE CRIMINALS
how-toVZCZCXRO6361 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHJI #0305 1081145 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181145Z APR 06 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9075 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1355 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1433 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 6425 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000305
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP;
PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV SCUL SOCI CASC SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA: SOP FOR QUESTIONING FEMALE CRIMINALS
Classified By: Consul General Tatiana Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
RULES FOR QUESTIONING WOMEN SUSPECTED OR ACCUSED OF A CRIME
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000305
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP;
PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV SCUL SOCI CASC SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA: SOP FOR QUESTIONING FEMALE CRIMINALS
Classified By: Consul General Tatiana Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
RULES FOR QUESTIONING WOMEN SUSPECTED OR ACCUSED OF A CRIME
1. (C) A contact of AmConGen Jeddah reported that Saudi
authorities utilize a unique and explicit set of procedures
when questioning women who are suspected or accused of a
crime in the Kingdom. According to the source, a woman must
be accompanied by a "Mahram", or male guardian, throughout
the entire investigative process. If the issue at hand is
confidential, the Mahram must be put in an adjacent room with
SIPDIS
a window through which he can continue watching the woman.
If no Mahram is available, a Sheikh and a member of the
Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of
Vice (Mutawah) must attend in his place. Secondly, only
investigators known for their "good manners and honesty"
should handle criminal cases involving women. When these
investigators speak with the female suspects, they should use
only direct and straightforward questions.
2. (C) The Consulate's source also reported that when
standard police operating procedures call for a physical
search of a detainee, two women "known for their honesty"
must perform the search on a female suspect and only in the
presence of her Mahram. When it is necessary to "smell" the
woman for alcohol-related offenses, two female doctors or
nurses must be involved and, again, only in the presence of
the female detainee's Mahram. Finally, the Consulate contact
stated that a woman who is being taken out of jail for
questioning must be accompanied by her Mahram or two
"dependable" women. NOTE. This source did not indicate how
strictly this standard operating procedure is followed. END
NOTE.
Gfoeller
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP;
PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV SCUL SOCI CASC SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA: SOP FOR QUESTIONING FEMALE CRIMINALS
Classified By: Consul General Tatiana Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
RULES FOR QUESTIONING WOMEN SUSPECTED OR ACCUSED OF A CRIME
1. (C) A contact of AmConGen Jeddah reported that Saudi
authorities utilize a unique and explicit set of procedures
when questioning women who are suspected or accused of a
crime in the Kingdom. According to the source, a woman must
be accompanied by a "Mahram", or male guardian, throughout
the entire investigative process. If the issue at hand is
confidential, the Mahram must be put in an adjacent room with
SIPDIS
a window through which he can continue watching the woman.
If no Mahram is available, a Sheikh and a member of the
Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of
Vice (Mutawah) must attend in his place. Secondly, only
investigators known for their "good manners and honesty"
should handle criminal cases involving women. When these
investigators speak with the female suspects, they should use
only direct and straightforward questions.
2. (C) The Consulate's source also reported that when
standard police operating procedures call for a physical
search of a detainee, two women "known for their honesty"
must perform the search on a female suspect and only in the
presence of her Mahram. When it is necessary to "smell" the
woman for alcohol-related offenses, two female doctors or
nurses must be involved and, again, only in the presence of
the female detainee's Mahram. Finally, the Consulate contact
stated that a woman who is being taken out of jail for
questioning must be accompanied by her Mahram or two
"dependable" women. NOTE. This source did not indicate how
strictly this standard operating procedure is followed. END
NOTE.
Gfoeller