imran@decwrl.dec.com (02/19/91)
This is an article on Human Rights in Saudi Arabia. This was taken from the magazine Minaret and is titled "Freedom in Saudi Arabia". Saeed al_Saban (last name changed) is currently loving in the U.S. He is a Saudi Citizen. Here he shares his ideas with the Minaret readers about his country. Q. Can you tell us about the current situation in your country? A. Saudi Arabia is a country led and guided by the monarchs. It is one of those countries where Islam is violated in the name of Islam. The irony is that it is through Saudi Arabia the world understands Islam. There is no equality in the kingdom as prescribed by Islam and there is no shura (people's participation in decision making) as ordered by Islam. Kings and princes are powerful, they can do whatever they want to doo. No one can stop them. They openly violate Islam in the country as well as outside the country. No one can speak up. No one can question the government. No one can give an alternative viewpoint. Those who try to excercise their Islamic right of speaking the truth suffer greatly. They are stripped of their jobs, business and, often, homes. They are imprisoned and occasionally killed. A number of people who have spoken against the government's decision to invite the U.S. troops in the region have been removed from their positions. Some have been imprisioned. The prisoners are not allowed to defend themselves.People are not allowed to choose their representatives. The monarchy follows a simple rule. If you can't buy ! over the people, get rid of them. Q. How many citizens are in prison for political reason? A. No body knows the real number. No body would ever know the real population of political prisoners under the present system. There is no islamic body to question the government about the political prisoners. International human rights oorganizations are not allowed to visit the kingdom. There are a no. of people who keep disappearing. Where do they go? Nobody knows Sometimes the families receivethe mutilated bodies of their fathers, brothers or sons. Many a times they don't. I cannot really guess how many people are in jail. Q. What about women? We hear a lot that women are persecuted in Saudi society. Is that true? A. Islam is not allowed to express itself fully in the national life. Once, the government and its sponsered scholars allow the real Islam to make itself manifest, men and women would be free and equal in the real sense of the term. In Islam women are asked to play a dynamic role in the reconstruction of human society; they have rights similar to men to decide what is best for them within the divine framework. Q. How influential are religious scholars in shaping the government's policies? A. If you are talking of real scholars, then the answer is, not at all. If you mean those scholars who are employed by the government, then the answer is very influential. The government does not allow the real scholars to communicate withthe people in a significant way. Q. Is there a possibility of change in near future? A. The change will come soon will come soon. It will be violent. The kings and corrupt officials will be swept away. People have had enough; they lack courage and organization. Soon they will find these two weapons.