Human Rights in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example

Human Rights in Saudi Arabia Introduction Saudi Arabia is one of the most conservative monarchies in the whole world leading to lots of human rights abuses. Saudi Arabia just as other countries in the world conform to important human rights instruments with the aim of protecting human dignity.1 The country has also signed five agreements with International Labour Organization beside approval of several regional and chapters to express its commitments infighting for human rights. Despite these achievements, Saudi Arabia is yet to sign important human rights covenants and agreements related to human rights such as those that protect the non-governmental organizations and their active members.2 Therefore, there are very many human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, which exist in various forms and levels, thus negatively affecting their citizens. Political prisoners arrested and killed during a demonstration with no charge The ruling party, which consist of the al-Saud family, tolerate no forms of political and the dissents are harshly treated beyond the human rights standards. The government deploys the tactic of arbitrary detection without charge or trial thus amounting to gross violation of human rights. The prisoners are also subjected to staging sham trials lacking the minimum requirements for any judicial process. The government supporters who have voiced their mild allegations of the ruling class have also found their way into kangaroo courts or subjected to imprisonment without trial.3 The political prison is full beyond capacity since its projected to hold about 10, 000 prisoners yet it now has over three times this number. This number of political prisoners is extremely high considering it is a country of about 27 million people most of which are young adults. The crisis of imprisonment keeps on getting worse at the dawn of each day since more and more people are arrested and imprisoned on unclear grounds. The prisoners are made to live and endure in critical inhumane conditions with less medical care and lack of other basic needs required in standard prisons.4 This makes the prisoners to suffer as they serve their imprisonment some of which die in the course of their sentences. The family members of the prisoners are rarely awarded an opportunity to visit their imprisoned relatives in those dilapidated conditions and thus are less aware of the jubilations faced by their people.5 The government of the Saudi Arabia has shown little interest in helping the prisoners, most of which who are because of political challenge against their dynasties. The government feels that this is the best means of treating the prisoners to remove any kind of political uprising, which may challenge their authority and leadership. The government conditions are so severe that even the released prisoners are still pressured with travel bans and other forms of threats to avoid. Those who fight for human rights are also subjected to employment bans, teaching bans, and imprisonment of other family members and close relatives so that they stop their calls for change in the autocratic leadership witnessed in Saudi Arabia. 6 Women Rights This is the country where women lead stranger life than any other part of the word. In Saudi Arabia, women are treated like second-class citizens, as they are not allowed all the privileges enjoyed by women.7 Human rights in Saudi Arabia is amongst the mostly talked about yet the murkiest topic in the country due to low regards women are held. The challenges facing women in Saudi Arabia range from political to legal disenfranchisement along with curtailed liberties that makes their life extremely uncomfortable in their daily lives. The paradox of the human rights in Saudi Arabia is that there is less if no recourse avenues for women who experience various forms of abuse. The women in Saudi Arabia are living with bitter realities as they glance to rights enjoyed by women in neighbouring countries composed of people they share traditions, customs and religion. The women in Saudi Arabia cannot enjoy basic activities like shopping as they are supposed to be accompanied by a close male relative lest they face problems with the government.8 Unlike other women in neighbouring countries, the Saudi women are not allowed presentation in parliament or even given an opportunity to vote. The conditioned is worsened by the education system, which has also biased against women, as they are discouraged from taking courses like political science. The protection accorded to women is so minimal that they are often disadvantaged as they are normally physically attacked for appearing in the media resulting to serious physical harm. In terms of transportation and travel, women are not allowed to drive their own cars in Saudi Arabia; instead, they are to be driven by a male driver wherever they move. Travel ban is also imposed on the Saudi women not unless they are authorized by a male relative thus making it hard for them to explore opportunities presented in other countries. The lack of political empowerment in Saudi Arabia results into segregation and severe sexual repression and harassment thus violating the rights of women. The legal guardian of the Saudi women makes life unbearable for them as they are to be consulted and their consent sought on each and every major move a woman may wish to take hence reducing the right to choice. Most of women in Saudi Arabia languish in poverty, as they have to consult the guardian on any major investment and the guardian always take advantage of them in exploiting them. Religious Freedoms Religious freedom is highly violated in Saudi Arabia as the country has strong foundations on Sunni Islam.9 The legal system is based on the country observance of Hanbali School of Sunni Islamic Jurisprudence that employs strict observation of Islamic law and encourages discrimination of other religions.10 The law has no provision for separation of state and religion and thus the public practice of any other religion is highly prohibited at all times. The religious right violation is so severe that even the Muslims who fail to adhere to the government interpolation of Islam face serious actions from the state. Those who do not adhere to Islamic law face serious economic, legal, social, educational, and religious discrimination irrespective of their race, nationality, or religious affiliation. Those who oppose the religious discrimination in Saudi Arabia risk losing their lives as the country has no respect and does not recognize any other religion. Conclusion The autocratic leadership in Saudi Arabia is the source and the result of various forms of human rights violations witnessed in the country. The political prisoners face worst forms of human rights violations including executions in their attempt to fight various undemocratic practices witnessed in the country. The women in Saudi Arabia are accorded little respect, as they are not allowed to enjoy privileges like their male counterparts or even women from their neighbouring countries. Religious discrimination is at its peak in Saudi Arabia, as they recognize no any other religion contrary to Islam and they further need strict adherence to Islamic practices. Bibliography Kapiszewski, Andrzej. 2006. Step Towards Democratization or Reconfiguration of Authoritarianism? Journal of Asian and African Studies. Vol 41(5/6): 459–482. Jalata, Asafa. 2005. State Terrorism and Globalization: The Cases of Ethiopia and Sudan. International Journal of Comparative Sociology,; vol. 46, 1-2: pp. 79-102. Mohammad, Mahfoudh. 2012. Religions’ Dialogue and Issues of Freedom and Participation. Dubai: Madarek Publishing House. Sheikh, Alsaffar. Human Rights Status in Islamic Jurisprudence. Qatif: Sheikh Hasan Alsaffar Office. 2010. Sheikh, Alsaffar. Sectarianism; Politics and Religion. San Francisco: Arab Culture Center. 2009. Lacey, Robert. 2009. Inside the Kingdom. New York: Arrow Read More