اللجنة
العربية لحقوق الإنسان
ARAB COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION ARABE DES DROITS HUMAINS
International NGO in special Consultative
Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
Prisons in
Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary General
United Nations
Dear Secretary General Annan,
We would like to draw your attention to the extremely
deteriorating situation in the prisons of
This hunger strike originated from the hard detention
conditions of the political prisoners who have been denied any legal protection
and the minimal rights granted to ordinary detainees. Their detention violates
the provisions of the internal law of
We would like to draw your attention to the fact that
these institutions are officially managed by the interior ministry, and
especially the intelligence services directorate, which is in charge of
conducting the investigation and routine judicial procedures when they exist.
Neither
the ministry of Justice, nor the judicial authority enjoy
the power to oversee or control these prisons.
The indefinite hunger strike, which started in Al Hayr prison on
The main grievances articulated by the strikers before
the official authorities are:
1.
Keeping in detention many
prisoners who have completed their sentence, for more than one and a half years
in some cases;
2.
More than 400 people are
being detained for a period ranging from 6 months to 2 years without any legal
action processed against them;
3.
A number of prisoners have
been arrested only for their political opinions critical either of the
government or the political situation in the region.
It is very alarming that some
persons have been detained for many years without any charge or judgement or legal process of any kind. For instance, Mr Walid Al-Sinani
and his son, Rabi’ Al Sinani, have been detained in
Al Hayr prison since 1994, i.e. for more than ten
years, without any legal action or judgement
whatsoever.
The main demands conveyed by the detainees to the
official authorities are:
1.
The release of all the
prisoners who completed their sentences and their compensation for their
arbitrary detention beyond the sentence;
2.
The release of all persons
detained for more than 6 months without any charge or trial or appearance
before any judicial body, as well as their compensation and rehabilitation;
3.
The safeguard of the right
of every prisoner to have the assistance of a lawyer before and during the
trial;
4.
The appearance of detainees
before independents and fair judges;
5.
The prosecution of state
agents involved in the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatments of detainees,
and the authorities’ recognition of the fundamental right of detainees to
challenge the abuses before the courts;
6.
The setting up of an
independent and impartial commission, made up of legal experts and independent
personalities who enjoy moral authority, to visit the detainees, listen to
their grievances and inspect their living conditions;
7.
The setting up of an independent
body, made up of members of the Consultative Assembly, lawyers and even judges,
in charge of inspecting the legal adequacy of the processes involved in the
preliminary investigations;
8.
The effective
implementation of the Royal decree No 39 of
These demands are evidently in accordance with the
universal rights recognised as the minimum rights
needed to protect all persons under any form of detention or imprisonment.
The hunger strikers are determined to assert what they
rightly regard as fundamental rights of the human person. It is to be greatly
feared that there will be loss of life. Several of them have already been taken
to hospital in very serious conditions. Two of them had tried to immolate
themselves.
It is therefore our moral duty to insist, once again
and strongly, on the urgency to approach the Saudi Arabian authorities to urge
them to apply the principles for the protection of persons under any form of
detention or imprisonment adopted by the General Assemble of the United
Nations.
Respectfully yours,
|
For Karama Association |
For the Arab Commission for
Human Rights |
|
Geneva Representative |
Spokesperson |
|
Maitre Rachid Mesli |
Dr Haytham Manna |