Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: MTV youths may face trial

Publication Date: 
June 2, 2010
Source: 
The Scotsman


SAUDI Arabia's religious police are trying to bring to court three Saudi youths for challenging the kingdom's austere lifestyle on an MTV reality show.

Saudi Arabia: Women’s Rights Gain Focus

Publication Date: 
May 12, 2010
Source: 
Carnegie Foundation for International Peace Arab Reform Bulletin
Credit: Arab Reform Bulletin


After years of stymied efforts, the reform focus in Saudi Arabia is centering on women’s rights. A recent survey by the Researchers Center for Women’s Studies in Riyadh () examining Saudi newspapers and websites showed that from mid January to mid February 2010 some 40 percent of articles in print media and 58 percent of articles on websites treated women’s issues. Empowering women has become a priority for local activists and various initiatives are springing up to secure their basic rights. The most recent and ambitious of these efforts is a national campaign, driven by local actors, calling for women’s participation in municipal elections scheduled for autumn 2011.

Saudi Arabia: 12 Year Old Girl Granted Forced Marriage Divorce from Husband 80

Publication Date: 
April 22, 2010
Source: 
Times Online
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay noted efforts to improve human rights in Saudi Arabia


A girl aged 12 has won a divorce from her 80-year-old husband in Saudi Arabia in a case that may help to introduce a minimum age of marriage in the kingdom for the first time. The girl’s unusual legal challenge to the arrangement generated international media attention and scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s record of child marriages.

It also prompted the state-run Human Rights Commission to appoint a lawyer to represent her. The commission has capitalised on the case and pushed for a legal minimum age for marriage of at least 16.

Three committees have been assembled to examine the possibility. Medical experts, child psychologists, social workers and scholars in Islamic law will debate the issue over the coming months before submitting their recommendations to a public hearing.

Press Release: An Influential Saudi Cleric Calls for Beheading of Apostates

Washington, DC (February 24, 2010). The Washington-based Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia unequivocally denounces Shaikh Abdulrahman Al-Barrak call for the beheading of those who initiate or accept gender mingling in schools or in the work place. “They should be given one chance to repent, but if they do not, they should be considered apostate and beheaded,” Al-Barrak said.

Saudi Arabia - New law will end male dominance in Saudi courts

Arab News - 21 February, 2010

Saudi Arabia's justice minister says his department is drafting a law that would allow female lawyers to argue legal cases in court for the first time.

UPDATE: Saudi Arabia: Court ratifies guilty verdict on 75 year old women

On 25 August the court of Al-Shamli, north of Hail, found Mrs Khamisa Sawadi guilty of the charge of "khilwa" (mingling with two young men to whom she was not immediately related), and the higher court in Riyadh ratified their verdict. One of the two young men who was tried alongside Sawadi may face additional charges for filing a law suit against the religious police. This is in spite of the fact that in May the Court of Cassation refused to ratify the verdict and returned the case to Al-Shamli court with several observations on the previous verdict, including the rejection of her breastfeeding claim and the fact that she is old.

Saudi Princess Avoids Death by Stoning with UK Asylum

Saudi Princess Avoids Death by Stoning with UK Asylum
Written by Benjamin Joffe-Walt
Published Monday, July 20, 2009

Saudi judge: It's OK to slap spendthrift wives

(CNN) -- Husbands are allowed to slap their wives if they spend lavishly, a Saudi judge said recently during a seminar on domestic violence, Saudi media reported Sunday.