Human Rights and Democracy - Official Documents

the government-funded, but independent, National Society of Human Rights. The
National Society in particular was more outspoken in 2010 on a range of issues.
Other human rights organisations, most notably Human Rights First and the
Association for Civil and Political Rights, remain illegal. During its Universal Periodic
Review at the UN Human Rights Council in February 2009, we recommended that
Saudi Arabia enact a law allowing the formation of civil society organisations. We
repeated this recommendation to the governmental Human Rights Commission in
2010.
Freedom of expression
The limits on freedom of expression have widened significantly since King Abdullah
came to the throne. The media now reports on issues previously considered
unacceptable, such as social problems and the performance of ministries. But limits
remain, particularly around criticism of individual members of the government and
around religion. In May, the editor of Saudi Arabia’s most liberal newspaper Al
Watan was removed after allowing an article critical of religious practice in Saudi
Arabia to be printed. In October, a journalist for the Al Jazeera newspaper in Qubba
was sentenced to 50 lashes for allegedly inciting unrest by reporting protests about
electricity prices. He appealed and the case was still outstanding at the end of 2010.
Our Embassy continued to promote greater freedom of expression through contacts
with journalists and bloggers.
Freedom of religion and belief
Saudi Arabia forbids the public practice of religions other than Islam. Private
religious observance is tolerated, but non-Muslim religious communities live under
fear of persecution if they seek to come together to worship. Conversion from Islam
technically carries the death penalty, although no cases were reported in 2010.
The treatment of Shia minorities in Saudi Arabia remains of concern. The Shia of
the Eastern Province and the Ismailis of Najran face restrictions on the building of
mosques and other civic restrictions. The King’s initiative to promote interfaith
dialogue internationally has had a limited impact inside the Kingdom.
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