Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RIYADH1767
2007-08-25 10:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:  

U.S. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PINR KIRF KISL SA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRH #1767/01 2371049
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251049Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6329
INFO RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 8961
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001767 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR RJACHIM/SRAMESH, DRL/NESCA
FOR JLEIBERMAN; AND DRL/IRF FOR AGOMBIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2027
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINR KIRF KISL SA
SUBJECT: U.S. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
MEETS WITH SAUDI HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001767

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR RJACHIM/SRAMESH, DRL/NESCA
FOR JLEIBERMAN; AND DRL/IRF FOR AGOMBIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2027
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINR KIRF KISL SA
SUBJECT: U.S. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
MEETS WITH SAUDI HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Members and staff of the U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) met with
representatives of Saudi Arabia,s Human Rights Commission
(HRC) and the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) during
their May 27-June 5, 2007 visit to the Kingdom. HRC
President Turki Al-Sudairy told the Commission that the Board
reports directly to the King and develops policy on a range
of issues. He noted that the HRC has resolved approximately
67 percent of the over 1,000 complaints it has received, and
works closely with NSHR. HRC representatives reiterated
support for the principle of freedom of religion, but
emphasized that reform in this regard must be "managed" in
order to balance competing priorities within Saudi society.


2. CONTINUE SUMMARY: Dr. Mufleh Al-Khatani, who chaired the
NSHR meeting with USCIRF, told the Commission that it has
received 8,500 cases in the past three years. He underscored
that NSHR addresses human rights from an Islamic perspective
and ensures that actions do not contradict Shari,a. NSHR,s
recent projects included visiting 23 jails to document
conditions and follow-up on specific cases, as well as
issuing the first human rights report by Saudi civil society.
He added that NSHR is working on a study comparing Saudi
laws and international human rights treaties. NSHR told the
Commission that while "officially" there are no religious
minorities, they exist "socially." END SUMMARY.

---
HRC
---


3. (C) USCIRF Members and staff met with representatives of
Saudi Arabia,s HRC on June 2, 2007. Discussions focused on
religious freedom and human rights, as well as issues
relating to women,s rights. HRC representatives included
Turki Al-Sudairy, President, Ibrahim Al-Muneef, Member, Abdul
Aziz Henaidy, Director General of International Organizations

and Relations, and Ali Al-Mustaneer, Director of Public
Relations.


4. (C) Al-Sudairy explained that the HRC was established in
September 2005 but noted its Board was not appointed until
December 2006. He stressed that the HRC reports directly to
the King, and Al-Muneef explained that the Board does not
focus on any particular segment of Saudi society. Al-Henaidy
described how the Board develops policies, noting that it has
five committees that meet weekly on topics such as other
interpretations of Islam, women, marriage, and prisons.


5. (C) Al-Sudairy continued that the HRC has a special
department that follows up on human rights-related
complaints, noting that religious freedom is one of its
priorities. According to Al-Sudairy, the HRC has received
over 1,000 complaints and reviewed or resolved approximately
67 percent of them. He noted that the HRC works closely with
NSHR and said they have a joint committee to coordinate
activities.


6. (C) HRC representatives noted that they accept the right
of individuals to adopt any religion, including other
interpretations of Islam. However, they explained that the
culture of human rights and religious freedom is new to
Saudis, emphasizing that the King has frequently condemned
religious bigotry, as well as conflicts between Islamic
sects. They continued that the King established the Islamic
Center so representatives of all sects could meet and discuss
issues and problems relating to religion (NOTE: Post is
unaware of the existence of such a center. We will follow up
with HRC to try and obtain further information. END NOTE).
Al-Henaidy stressed that no one wants chaos, but said some
think the SAG has gone too far with regard to religion, while
Al-Sudairy added that the SAG must be careful to "balance
demands and issues."


7. (C) Al-Sudairy explained that Saudi Arabia has signed on
to international human rights treaties and agreements with
reservations regarding religion because of its unique role as
guardian of Islam's two holy mosques. He explained that
Saudi Arabia has "a special responsibility to the world's 1.3
billion Muslims."


8. (C) Turning to issues relating to women, Al-Sudairy
predicted that they will be given more rights, emphasizing
that there has been progress in this regard. He continued
that the HRC has several projects underway to increase the
public,s awareness of human rights, issues, including the

use of print media, television, and radio, and is developing
pamphlets to explain human rights.

--------------
NSHR
--------------



9. (C) The Commission also met with NSHR representatives in
Riyadh on June 3, 2007. NSHR provided USCIRF with an
overview of its structure and activities, noting that it was
established in 2004 with 40 members, including 10 women.
Members are appointed by the King, and the president,
deputies and committee heads are elected by the members.
NSHR,s four committees include monitoring/follow-up, family,
studies/consultations, and culture/publications.


10. (C) Thirty committee members monitor human rights abuses,
and complaints are received in Riyadh and four regional
branch offices. Law graduates give legal advice as needed,
and NSHR members write to public authorities on behalf of
complainants, citing relevant treaties and laws. Meeting
participants agreed that the response from some agencies has
been very good.


11. (C) According to NSHR, it received 8,500 cases in the
last three years, including administrative, judicial,
prisoner, and labor issues. Additionally, it receives cases
from Saudis and non-Saudis, as well as from Saudis living
abroad (NOTE: NSHR recently contacted the U.S. Consulate in
Dhahran regarding an American woman who lost custody of her
children in the Saudi courts and who has alleged other
violations of her rights. NSHR is determining whether to
take an advocacy role on her behalf. END NOTE). NSHR issues
a free monthly bulletin entitled "Rights," and developed a
press file for media reports on human rights issues. NSHR
also prints Arabic copies of international human rights
agreements and offers seminars and lectures.


12. (C) NSHR representatives noted that recent projects
included visits to 23 jails to document conditions and follow
up on cases. They added that they recently issued the first
human rights report by Saudi civil society (septel) and are
working on a study comparing Saudi laws and international
human rights treaties.


13. (C) Shi,a activist Dr. Mufleh Al-Khatani, who chaired
the meeting with USCIRF, underscored that NSHR addresses
human rights from an Islamic perspective and ensures that
actions do not contradict Shari,a. There are many debates
within Saudi society on Islamic texts and religious police,
he said, and some view the religious police as a means to
protect human rights. However, he also pointed out that
others see them as an impediment to human rights. Al-Khatani
stated that the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and
Prevention of Vice has its own regulations, noting that the
public is now asking that these regulations be specified
clearly. He said the religious police are not trained on the
Convention Against Torture, adding that it is difficult for
NSHR to criticize them because it does not have "real
Government status."


14. (C) Al-Khatani acknowledged that the Kingdom has a long
way to go with human rights, saying Saudi society is not yet
used to this concept. He added that SAG ministries and
agencies were previously unresponsive to NSHR requests.
However, after the SAG issued a statement that all government
bodies must respond promptly to NSHR requests, most have been
responding within three weeks.


15. (C) NSHR representatives told the Commission that
"officially" there are no religious minorities, but
"socially" they do exist. NSHR indicated that it has two
Shi,a members, including the Eastern Province Branch
President. One member described how Eastern Province
teachers had been transferred to posts below their education
level, saying that, after NSHR intervention, the Government
reversed the move.
GFOELLER