SAUDI HUMAN RIGHTS SOCIETY CALLS FOR CLOSURE OF

UNCLAS RIYADH 005707 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PHUM SA SUBJECT: SAUDI HUMAN RIGHTS SOCIETY CALLS FOR CLOSURE OF GUANTANAMO REF: STATE 44995 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See Para 4. ¶2. (U) On July 15 and 16, several Saudi newspapers published a letter to President Bush from the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) calling for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. A member of the NSHR gave the Ambassador a copy of the letter. The text of the letter follows. ¶3. (U) (Begin text of letter) July 11, 2006 (Addressed to President George W. Bush) Dear Mr. President: The National Society for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia offers you its sincerest greetings and warmest regards. The Society would like to bring to your Excellency's kind attention that it is monitoring with great concern the situation of the detainees of Guantanamo Bay. We were optimistic, like the rest of the world, at the release of the first few, however, the recent deaths of three detainees inside Guantanamo Bay has raised the concern and caused much anger and despair amongst the fathers, mothers, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters of the detainees, as well as among the public at large. The Society has received numerous complaints from the families expressing their complaints, frustration, anger, and sadness at being separated from their loved ones. They feel that detention for over four years without being charged, presented for trial, or even receiving the basic rights set forth by international treaties should not continue by a country that calls for respecting human rights at every occasion and at every level and a nation that has strong ties with the people of Saudi Arabia. The families' concern increased upon hearing of the three deaths under vague circumstances, which prompted the Society to meet with the detainees' families to look into their situation. The meeting concluded with a few recommendations, one of which was to appeal to you, Mr. President, to shut down Guantanamo Bay, and in the absence of charges, release the detainees immediately or transubstantiate them to fair civil courts. Sincerely yours, Dr. Bandar M. Hajjar President, National Society for Human Rights ¶4. (U) Action Request: The NSHR and the Human Rights Commission are the two SAG-supported human rights organizations in the Kingdom and both have been outspoken about Guantanamo. Post requests the Department's guidance in responding to this letter. OBERWETTER