DRL DAS BARKS-RUGGLES MEETING WITH SAUDI HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 RIYADH 008841

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (BSHUKAN, RJACHIM, SWALKER),DRL
(RCASTEEL),DRL/IRF (HANFORD, LISTON, LURIE),DRL/NESCA
(OZKAN),DRL/MLGA (NOYES)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2016
TAGS: KDEM OTRA PGOV PHUM SA
SUBJECT: DRL DAS BARKS-RUGGLES MEETING WITH SAUDI HUMAN
RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS

REF: 06 RIYADH 07097

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) DRL DAS Erica Barks-Ruggles met the National Society
for Human Rights, the Human Rights Commission, and the Human
Rights First Society during her September 12-14 visit to
Riyadh. Participants in all three meetings raised U.S.
treatment of Homaidan Al-Turki (reftel)and Guantanamo Bay
detainees as issues seriously impacting Saudi public opinion
about the U.S. These human rights activists outlined new
efforts to address human rights issues -- from domestic
violence to prison conditions. Despite their acknowledging
human rights problems in Saudi Arabia, they clearly are also
focusing a good deal of their attention on perceived
mistreatment of Saudi nationals abroad ) especially in the
U.S. Meeting participants emphasized that the image of the
United States has been harmed by its perceived bias on Middle
East policy. All welcomed more contact and further
engagement with the USG and U.S. human rights organizations.
END SUMMARY.

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NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (NSHR)
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2. (U) DAS Barks-Ruggles met on September 12 with NSHR
Chairman Dr. Bandar Mohamad Al-Hajar at the Majlis Ash-Shoura
and again at the NSHR headquarters with other NSHR members,
including three women and four men. NSHR, a
quasi-non-governmental organization founded in March 2004 to
address human rights issues in the Kingdom, is headquartered
in Riyadh with branch offices in Jeddah, Jazan, and Dammam.
Several Majlis Ash-Shoura members are also members of the
NSHR. According to Al-Hajar, NSHR has 41 members, 25 percent
of whom are women. He claimed that it has received
approximately 6,000 complaints from Saudi citizens and
non-citizens since its founding. Approximately two percent
of the complaints involve domestic abuse, but the number is
growing. Al-Hajar also said that the NSHR and the
governmental Human Rights Commission (HRC) will meet in
October to discuss human rights issues, including information
sharing and coordination.


3. (U) The NSHR representatives noted their efforts in the
Kingdom, telling DAS Barks-Ruggles that, after visiting 16
prisons, NSHR found overcrowded conditions and determined
that one-third of prisoners remain in pre-trial detention --
many for extended periods. Some individuals still in custody
had, in fact, served time longer than if they had been
convicted of the crimes for which they were charged. In
addition, prisoners who are foreigners often languish
indefinitely in custody even after their sentences are
completed because they cannot receive exit visas without
proving they have settled their debts in the Kingdom.
Additionally, they must either purchase plane tickets home or
have their Saudi sponsors/employers do so. NSHR reported
that the King or other members of the royal family have in
the past paid these expenses so that these foreign workers )
who are often destitute ) can be released.


4. (SBU) In turning to issues affecting women and other
minorities in the Kingdom, the NSHR members reported a new
and growing focus in public opinion on domestic abuse )
often termed family safety to avoid controversy. While less
than three percent of petitions received thus far by the NSHR
involve domestic abuse, that number is growing as education
about the issue grows. The NSHR members reported that the
lack of adequate emergency and longer-term shelters for women
and children in need is a problem in the Kingdom. The Social
Affairs Ministry runs some shelters, but for cultural and
religious reasons, it is difficult to get adequate support
for safehouses for female victims of domestic violence.
Additionally, there are some SAG efforts underway to improve
public awareness of these issues, as well as those relating
to foreign domestic workers. For example, the Labor Ministry
publishes a brochure ) in English and Arabic - on workers,
rights and obligations, which is available at all ports of
entry and foreign embassies. There have also been several
public media campaigns stressing employers, duties under

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Islam towards their domestic workers. DAS Barks-Ruggles
urged meeting participants to link up with the Ministries of
Justice and Labor to learn more about recently initiated
anti-trafficking efforts.


5. (SBU) Dr. Al-Hajar and other NSHR members raised two
issues of concern as well: the Homaidan Al-Turki case and
Guantanamo Bay detainees. (NOTE: The Homaidan Al-Turki case
was raised in virtually every meeting and event during DAS
Barks-Ruggles visit. END NOTE.) After a lengthy discourse
about Saudi public perception that Al-Turki received an
unfairly lengthy sentence, the NSHR members also raised
specific concerns about his treatment (including access to
appropriate diet, medical care, etc.). DAS Barks-Ruggles
followed up with Colorado State Department of Corrections and
passed information back through Embassy Riyadh on September

21.


6. (SBU) On Guantanamo, DAS Barks-Ruggles explained the
President,s publicly stated desire to close the facility as
soon as possible, noting that the U.S. would do so consonant
with its responsibilities to bring those responsible for
violent crimes to justice, ensure the security of the
American people and fulfill its treaty obligations not to
return foreigners (including Guantanamo detainees) to
countries where they are more likely than not to be tortured.


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HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (HRC)
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7. (SBU) DAS Barks-Ruggles met on September 13 with HRC
Chairman Turki Al-Sudairy and other HRC members. Al-Sudairy
said the HRC is a new organization, ten months old, and that
"very soon" the King will name the 24 members of the Board
(i.e., 18 full-time and 6 part-time members). It currently
has 150 employees and six committees. (NOTE: It was obvious
from the quick tour of the premises in a brand-new,
not-yet-fully-completed building that the Saudi HRC is still
getting on its feet. END NOTE.) While all HRC Board members
are now men, the HRC will have female employees and advisors,
he said. Al-Sudairy explained that some of the HRC Board
members will also be members of the Majlis Ash-Shoura, as
well as lawyers, academics, and SAG employees. He promised
that the HRC Board will discuss major issues -- not smaller
issues -- emphasizing that it will monitor human rights and
ensure consistency with Shari,a law. Al-Sudairy stressed
that Islam already emphasizes human rights, so the subject is
not new to the KSA, although he conceded that Saudis need to
be better educated regarding human rights. He said that the
HRC already has received 900 complaints from private citizens
thus far.


8. (SBU) Al-Sudairy emphasized that the HRC reports to the
King and deals with complaints about the SAG, while the NSHR
deals with complaints against individuals and groups of
individuals. He said that a royal decree requires all SAG
ministers to respond to an HRC inquiry within three weeks.
Some ministries have not met this deadline, he said, but this
is improving. Al-Sudairy noted that the HRC can visit any
institution, including prisons, without prior permission or
notice. The HRC has branch offices in the Eastern Province
and the western part of the Kingdom, and will eventually open
other branch offices. He described a good working
relationship with the NSHR and said the HRC also fully
cooperates with international organizations and human rights
groups, although he acknowledged that this effort is still in
its infancy. Al-Sudiariy continued that the King Abdul-Aziz
Center for National Dialogue (KAACND),which is holding
preparatory meetings throughout the KSA, has asked the HRC to
participate in the Sixth National Dialogue. (NOTE: The
Sixth National Dialogue is scheduled to begin in February or
March 2007. Preparatory meetings are currently underway.
END NOTE.)


9. (SBU) Al-Sudairy and other HRC members stressed that the
U.S. image has been damaged in the eyes of Saudi citizens by
perceived U.S. imbalance in its support for Israel during the
conflict in Lebanon, as well as press reports of harassment
and perceived abuse of Saudis in the U.S. and/or U.S. custody
elsewhere. They urged that the U.S. more proactively )
including through the Embassy in Riyadh ) reach out on human
rights issues and explain U.S. positions. Americans need to
engage more with Saudis, Al-Sudairy said, including opening

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&American Corners8 in the Kingdom. Al-Sudairy urged Post
to conduct regular briefings to explain U.S. policy and
actions, stressing that &soft power8 is better than force.
Meeting participants agreed with DAS Barks-Ruggles that
exchanges of Americans and Saudis ) not just government
officials -- should be increased, including possible
reciprocal visits between U.S. human rights-oriented NGOs and
the HRC. DAS Barks-Ruggles emphasized that the USG and the
SAG are reinforcing ties both on a government-to-government
level, but also through encouraging increased citizen and
civil society interaction.

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HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST SOCIETY (HRFS)
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10. (C) DAS Barks-Ruggles met privately with HRC member and
President of Human Rights First Society (HRFS) Ibrahim
Al-Mugaiteeb at his request, who announced that the HRC
Deputy Chairman had given Al-Mugaigeeb, who is not a Shi,a
himself but advocates for equal rights for Shi,a, a letter
warning him that his HRC membership could be at risk if he
continued to sign as HRFS President petitions relating to
human rights issues. Al-Mugaiteeb pointed out that HRC
Chairman Al-Sudairy had not signed this warning letter
because he did not agree with it. He had assured
Al-Mugaiteeb that, if he joined the HRC, his independence
would not be jeopardized.


11. (C) Al-Mugaiteeb claimed that the SAG is discriminating
against Shi'a, including Ismailis, in granting scholarships
for study abroad. He alleged that the head of the highest
Saudi court called Ismailis "heretics" and "non-believers."
Al-Mugaiteeb claimed that the SAG has made no progress on
women,s rights, stating that first the SAG must recognize
the legal identity of women, then women should be given equal
access to training and jobs. However, he warned, the focus
should be on what Saudi women actually want -- not what
Americans think Saudi women want or should want.


12. (C) Al-Mugaiteeb claimed reformers felt betrayed by the
Secretary after her news conference upon the conclusion of

SIPDIS
the November 2005 Strategic Dialogue when she stated her
satisfaction with the SAG and Foreign Minister Al-Faisal. He
said the USG should realize that its strategic interests lie
with the Saudi people not with the Al-Saud royal family. He
also said Saudi reformers were disappointed when the USG did
nothing to prevent the imprisonment of members of the
Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights in Saudi
Arabia (CDLR). (NOTE: Al-Mugaiteeb did not indicate to
which CDLR members he was referring. END NOTE.) He
acknowledged that behind the scenes government-to-government
discussions could help push the SAG to reform, but he also
urged more public statements.


13. (C) Al-Mugaiteeb claimed that the most important thing
the SAG could do would be to grant and respect freedom of
association and assembly, as well as freedom of speech,
including through registering genuine NGOs such as his.
However, he said that the Al-Saud royal family will not do
this because it would mean giving up control and would be
seen as an erosion of their power. He claimed that the royal
family is afraid of and does not trust the Saudi people. He
cited two examples of SAG resistance to non-governmental
organizations. He lamented that the HRFS still is unable to
get a license from the SAG so it operates without official
permission. He said that the SAG insisted that two
organizations merge in order for them get permission to
educate and provide outreach to people in the Al-Hasa region
regarding a genetic condition caused by too much
inter-marriage.


14. (C) Al-Mugaiteeb was pessimistic about democracy
broadening and deepening in the KSA, claiming that the 2005
municipal council elections were undermined by the lack of
freedom of assembly and speech, as well as by inadequate
preparation of the electorate as to the process and what it
meant. He cited the &Golden Lists8 as an example of how
pre-existing groups organized themselves and others in order
to prevail in the elections. This clandestine, supposedly
prohibited, action gave religious conservatives an advantage
at the expense of liberals and reformers. Once Saudis are
adequately educated about democracy, Al-Mugaiteeb believes
that they should choose their representatives at all levels
of government.

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COMMENT
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15. (SBU) Despite questions regarding USG policies in the
Middle East, these Saudi human rights groups appeared eager
to work with the USG on capacity building and information
sharing. These meetings highlighted the importance of a
planned, proactive engagement by the USG with the SAG and the
Saudi public regarding human rights and democracy. END
COMMENT.


16. (U) This cable has been cleared by DAS Barks-Ruggles.
OBERWETTER