Human rights in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has frequently been criticized for abuses of human rights. The Saudi government denies that any human rights abuses take place.

Corporal and capital punishment

Saudi Arabia is one of a number of countries where courts continue to impose corporal punishment, including amputations of hands and feet for robbery, and floggings for lesser crimes such as "sexual deviance" and drunkenness. The number of lashes is not clearly prescribed by law and varied according to the discretion of judges, and range from dozens of lashes to several thousand, usually applied over a period of weeks or months. Saudi Arabia also still engages in capital punishment, including public executions by beheading, stoning and crucifixion.

In 2002, the United Nations Committee against Torture criticised Saudi Arabia over the amputations and floggings it carries out under its interpretation of Sharia. The Saudi delegation responded defending "legal traditions" held since the inception of Islam 1400 years ago and rejected interference in its legal system.

Women's rights

By western standards Saudi women face severe discrimination in many aspects of their lives, including the family, education, employment, and the justice system. The sexes are not equal in Saudi Arabia. Religious police enforces a modesty code of dress, even asking American Armed Services women to cover their heads. Institutions from schools to ministries are always gender-segregated.

Political Freedoms

Freedom of speech is restricted in Saudi Arabia with criticisms of the government stifled. Trade unions and political organizations are banned.

Religious freedoms

Saudi Arabia forbids missionary work by any religion other than Islam. Officially all religions other than Islam are banned and churches are not allowed outside of foreign enclaves. Other religions, specifically Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, are not tolerated. In an extreme case foreign workers have been incarcerated in the past for owning a rosary. "Freedom of religion does not exist," the U.S. State Department's 1997 Human Rights Report on Saudi Arabia states. "Islam is the official religion, and all citizens must be Muslims. The government prohibits the public practice of other religions." "It is absurd to impose on an individual or a society rights that are alien to its beliefs or principles," Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz at the U.N. Third Millenium summit in New York City, New York on 6 September.