saudi arabia aps

8/13/2019 Saudi Arabia APS

1/21

Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms Saudi Arabiawww.carnegieendowment.org/arabpoliticalsystemswww.fride.org/eng/Publications/Publication.aspx?Item=7 7

SAUDI ARABIA

UPDATES AND FORTHCOMING EVENTS ......................................................................................3

UPDATES AND FORTHCOMING EVENTS ......................................................................................3

STATE INSTITUTIONS/ SEPARATION OF POWERS.....................................................................4

STATE INSTITUTIONS/ SEPARATION OF POWERS.....................................................................4

! "!#$%I&! ' (A)#* ...............................................................................................................................+, !-IS,A%I&! ' (A)#* .............................................................................................................................

$0I#IA(1 ...............................................................................................................................................2, 3#A, - 3&!()4!)% ...........................................................................................................................56

RIGHTS ...................................................................................................................................................11

RIGHTS ...................................................................................................................................................11

P!(S3)A, , I'!(%I!S ............................................................................................................................55, !-IS,A%I3) ( !-$,A%I)- %*! ! "!(#IS! 3 ( I-*%S .........................................................................55( !#!)% - 3&!()4!)% I )I%IA%I&!S A !#%I)- ( I-*%S .....................................................................5+

POLITICAL FORCES............................................................................................................................16

POLITICAL FORCES............................................................................................................................16

P3,I%I#A, PA(%I!S ...............................................................................................................................52# I&I, S3#I!%1 .......................................................................................................................................52

ELECTION RESULTS...........................................................................................................................18

ELECTION RESULTS...........................................................................................................................18Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 81779 Massachusetts Ave. NWWashington .C. !""#$%!1"#

www.carnegieendowment.org

&undaci'n (ara las )elaciones Internacionales * eli+logo E,terior-

C &eli(e I/- 9 % 10 dcha. ! "12 Madrid.www.fride.org

At A GlancePopulation8 uly 9662 est. 97826586: ;including 8 728672

non

-0P Per #apita ;PPP>8 9662 est. 5:8 66

*uman 0e@elopment Index (an 8 $)0P8 9662 72 ;out of 577 countries>

reedom *ouse (ating8 9662 )ot ree

Political (igBts 7

#i@il ,iberties 7

reedom of tBe Press (an 8 reedom *ouse8 9662 579 ;out of 5C+ countries>

#orruption Index (an 8 %ransparency International8 9667 7C ;out of 5 6 countries>

-ender !mpowerment (an 8 $)0P8 966+ 77 ;out of 7 countries>
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/arabpoliticalsystemshttp://www.fride.org/eng/Publications/Publication.aspx?Item=787http://www.carnegieendowment.org/http://www.fride.org/http://www.carnegieendowment.org/http://www.fride.org/http://www.carnegieendowment.org/arabpoliticalsystemshttp://www.fride.org/eng/Publications/Publication.aspx?Item=787


2/21

Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms Saudi Arabia

CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION..........................................................................................................19

CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION..........................................................................................................19

CORRUPTION........................................................................................................................................20

CORRUPTION........................................................................................................................................20

RATIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS.............................................................21

RATIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS.............................................................21

Carnegie Endowment for International Peacewww.carnegieendowment.org

&undaci'n (ara las )elaciones Internacionales * eli+logo E,terior

www.fride.org

9
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/http://www.fride.org/http://www.carnegieendowment.org/http://www.fride.org/


3/21


Updates and Forthcoming Events

Saudi Information 4inister Iyad 4adani announced on anuary :68 966 a ban on

all li@e broadcasts on Saudi public tele@ision. %Be announcement came two daysafter some @iewers pBoned in witB critical comments about senior Saudigo@ernment officials8 including tBe Ding8 to a li@e program on tBe state


4/21


State Institutions/ Separation of Po ers

%Be Luran and tBe Sunna constitute tBe effecti@e constitution of Saudi Arabia. %Be'asic law ;)i am>8 a series of laws issued by Ding aBd in 5CC98 ser@es as aninformal constitution. %Be go@ernment


5/21


twenty ministries. %Be commander of tBe Saudi Arabian )ational -uard8 tBego@ernors of 4edina8 4ecca8 (iyadB8 and tBe !astern Pro@ince8 as well as tBego@ernor of tBeSaudi Arabian 4onetary Agency ;SA4A> and tBe Bead of tBe-eneral Petroleum and 4ineral 3rgani ation ;Petromin> Bold ministerial ranand are members of tBe #ouncil of 4inisters.

< *as responsibility for drafting and o@erseeing tBe implementation of internal8external8 financial8 economic8 education and defense policies8 and generalaffairs of state.

< *as autBority in financial matters8 appro@ing tBe annual budget andde@elopment plan.

< #an propose legislation8 and appro@e draft laws8 concessions and internationalagreements8 wBicB come into effect wBen tBey are ratified by tBe ing. In

practice8 tBe ing often passes and amends laws witBout first submitting tBemto tBe #ouncil of 4inisters.

< Imposes taxes and decides on tBe sale8 lease and disposal of go@ernment property.

%Be deliberations of tBe #ouncil of 4inisters ta e place beBind closed doors. Itsdecisions are made public except for tBose wBicB are considered to be secret by tBe#ouncil.

%Be term in office of tBe #ouncil of 4inisters runs for up to four years8 duringwBicB it can be reformed by a royal order.

Saudi ArabiaEs defense forces consist of tBe armed forces8 wBicB report to tBedefense minister8 and tBe )ational -uard. %Be )ational -uard is responsible forinternal security8 including tBe protection of tBe royal family and tBe pre@ention ofmilitary coups. NBile AbdullaB was #rown Prince tBe )ational -uard ser@ed as acounterweigBt to tBe regular army and as Bis basis of support.

R&-)$%' U! &$ D '+*'' )!

< Saudi Ding AbdullaB issued a royal decree on 3ctober 8 9667 outliningregulations to implement tBe 3ctober 9662 succession law aimed at ensuring asmootB transition of power. %Be succession law created a committee8 to becomprised of sons and grandsons of Abdul A i al


6/21


%BeC)!'*,( ( & C)*!+ , M

< #onsists of 5 6 members selected by tBe ing. %Bey cannot include princes orser@ing ministers. 4embers ser@e for four


7/21


< %Be udicial ,aw of 5C7 M< &ests tBe autBority of tBe udiciary in tBe Supreme udicial #ouncil ;S #>

wBicB is empowered to appoint8 promote and transfer Judges.< 0eclares tBe Judiciary independent. udges are to be subJect only to tBe

dictates of SBaria and tBe law.< (eFuires trials to be Beld publicly.

< %Be Statute on Imprisonment and 0etention of 9 4ay 5C7 M bans torture.

< %Be Statute of Principles of Arrest8 %emporary #onfinement and Pre@enti@e0etention8 was issued on 55 )o@ember 5C :. ItM< Is tBe main law regulating tBis area of tBe criminal Justice system. Includes

most detailed legislation on tBe rules of arrest and detention.< ProBibits arbitrary arrest. AutBorities are not supposed to detain suspects

for longer tBan tBree days before cBarging tBem.

< %Be ,aw of Procedure 'efore SBaria #ourts of September 9665M< -rants defendants tBe rigBt to legal representation.< 3utlines tBe process by wBicB pleas8 e@idence and experts are Beard by tBe

court.

< %Be #ode of ,aw Practice of anuary 9669M< 3utlines tBe reFuirements necessary to become an attorney and defines tBe

duties and rigBts of lawyers8 including tBe rigBt of attorney


8/21


< Arbitrary arrest8 particularly of suspected political and religiousopponents of tBe go@ernment8 is practiced. It is facilitated by tBe wide

powers of arrest enJoyed by numerous bodies acting witBout JudicialautBority. %Bese bodies include al8al and religious police

nown as al


9/21


Supreme #ommission on ,abor 0isputes8 tBe #ommission on ImpeacBment of4inisters8 and separate councils for ci@il ser@ants and military personnel.Appeals are permitted from all tBese bodies to tBe -rie@ance 'oard wBicB isalso independent of tBe 4inistry of ustice.

< %Be Supreme udicial #ouncil super@ises tBe wor of tBe courts8 re@iews alllegal decisions referred to it by tBe minister of Justice8 expresses legal opinionson Judicial Fuestions8 and appro@es all sentences of deatB8 amputation ;offingers and Bands as punisBment for tBeft>8 and stoning ;for adultery>. It is a

body of ele@en members cBosen from tBe leading ulema ;religious scBolars> oftBe country. %Be cBief of tBe Supreme udicial #ouncil is appointed by tBe ingfrom among tBe country s most senior ulema. In addition to its administrati@eautBority8 it also ser@es in a limited capacity as a final court of appeal for tBeSBaria #ourts. It is composed of two departments8 tBe Permanent #ommissionand tBe -eneral #ommission.

< %Be #onflicts of urisdiction #ommittee resol@es Jurisdictional disputesin@ol@ing a SBaria #ourt and anotBer tribunal or committee. It is composed oftwo members of tBe Supreme udicial #ouncil and one member of tBe tribunalor committee in Fuestion.

< %Be #ouncil of Senior Islamic ScBolars is an autonomous body of 96 seniorreligious Jurists8 including tBe 4inister of ustice. It establisBes tBe legal

principles to guide lower


10/21


"ocal Government

%Be 5CC9 ,aw of Pro@inces regulates tBe relationsBip between central go@ernment

agencies and regional go@ernors.

%Be ingdom is di@ided into 5: pro@inces8 eacB of wBicB is ruled by a go@ernor.%Be pro@incial go@ernment o@ersees tBe local offices of tBe central go@ernment andmunicipal officials. In some of tBe pro@inces tBere is a public maJlis wBere citi enscan @oice tBeir grie@ances.

-o@ernors and members of pro@incial councils are appointed by tBe ing. ,ocaladministrators are appointed by tBe minister of interior. 4ost go@ernors are alsomembers of tBe Bouse of al remain in tBe Bands of tBe4inistry of 4unicipal and (ural Affairs . 0uties of municipalities include planningof cities and @illages ;including roads and facilities>8 managing ser@ices to pro@ide

public BealtB and cleanliness8 and culti@ating and impro@ing rural areas.

%Be Saudi Arabian 4inistry of 4unicipal and (ural Affairs was establisBed in5C7 and o@ersees all areas of municipal go@ernance.



www.fride.org

56
http://www.saudinf.com/main/c5321.htmhttp://www.saudinf.com/main/c5321.htmhttp://www.momra.gov.sa/english/index.asphttp://www.momra.gov.sa/http://www.momra.gov.sa/http://www.carnegieendowment.org/http://www.fride.org/http://www.saudinf.com/main/c5321.htmhttp://www.momra.gov.sa/english/index.asphttp://www.momra.gov.sa/http://www.carnegieendowment.org/http://www.fride.org/


11/21


Rights

Personal "i%erties

%Be 'asic ,aw does not include explicit guarantees of basic rigBts sucB asfreedoms of belief8 expression8 assembly8 or political participation. It does proBibittBe go@ernment agencies from arbitrarily arresting citi ens and from @iolating tBeir

pri@acy.

reedom of expression is restricted by proBibitions of criticism of tBe go@ernment8Islam and tBe ruling family. %Be $.S. State 0epartmentEs 966+ I!(&$! ( )! ,R&, " )*' F$&& )% R)$( lists Saudi Arabia among tBe countries tBat @iolate orrestrict tBe religious freedom of tBeir citi ens8 for tBe first time designating it aGcountry of particular concernH ;#P#>.

Public expression of non face numerous restrictions on tBe public practice of tBeir religion andencounter discrimination in all areas of public sector employment and are subJectto abuse by go@ernment security ser@ices.

%Be )ew 1or


12/21


go@ernment does license professional associations sucB as tBe Saudi #BemistsAssociation and tBe Saudi PBarmacists Society.

< -o@ernmental permission is reFuired to form professional groups andassociations8 wBicB must be non


13/21


< According to tBe annual Norldwide Press reedom Index by (eporters witBout'orders8 Saudi Arabia ran s 5+ of 52C countries. %Be index runs from 5;most press freedom> to 52C ;least press freedom>.

P&$')! , S( (*' L

< In 3ctober 96668 tBe Saudi go@ernment signed tBe #on@ention on tBe!limination of All orms of 0iscrimination against Nomen8 witB reser@ationsconcerning clauses tBat conflict witB Islamic law. As a result8 despite tBesigning of tBe #on@ention8 Saudi laws systematically discriminates againstwomen.

< ,egal matters pertaining to personal status are usually tBe pur@iew of Islamiccourts tBat use SBaria as tBe basis for decisions. %Be #ouncil of Senior $lemaissues tBe final interpretation of Islamic law in Saudi Arabia witB tBe consent oftBe ing.

< An unmarried woman is tBe ward of Ber fatBer8 a married woman is tBe ward ofBer Busband and a widowed woman is tBe ward of Ber sons. Nomen cannotobtain a passport or an exit @isa or be admitted to a Bospital witBout tBe

permission of tBeir guardian.< Nomen are segregated from men in publicO proBibited from dri@ingO unable to

tra@el witBout a male relati@eO and reFuired to wear tBe abaya outside tBe Bome.< A man may recei@e a di@orce upon reFuest8 wBile a woman must win a legal

decision to separate.< A manEs testimony is eFual to tBat of two women in court.< Nomen were only issued identity cards in 9665. %o Fualify for an identity card8

a woman must Ba@e tBe written consent of Ber guardian and8 if employed8 aletter from Ber employer.

< In recent years8 women Ba@e gained some economic rigBts8 sucB as tBe rigBt toestablisB companies and cBaritable institutions.

R&-)$%' U! &$ D '+*'' )!

< %Be general committee on municipal elections Bas stated tBat women sBould beable to @ote in tBe next municipal elections8 scBeduled to ta e place in fouryears.

< A new regulation for issuing womenEs I0 cards was appro@ed on April 598

966 and will be publici ed soon. #i@il status departments in tBe Dingdom cannow issue I0 cards to women witBout a male guardianEs consent. A womanwitB a @alid I0 can @erify tBe identity of anotBer woman in order for tBatwoman to get Ber I0 card.

< oreign 4inister Prince Saud al aisal announced plans to appoint women totBe oreign 4inistry for tBe first time in 966 .

L )$ L

< %Be ,abor and Nor men ,aw of 5C2C does not set a legal minimum wage.,abor regulations establisB a +


14/21


< In April 9669 a new law was issued8 permitting Saudi wor ers to establisBlabor committees in companies witB 566 or more employees. %Be committeemembers are cBosen by tBe wor ers and appro@ed by tBe 4inistry. %Becommittee may ma e recommendations to company management to impro@ewor conditions8 increase producti@ity8 impro@e BealtB and safety8 and

recommend training programs. %Be M ! '($ )- L )$ ! S)+ , A-- $' may send a representati@e to attend committee meetings. %Be ministry maydissol@e a labor committee if it @iolates regulations or tBreatens public security.

oreign wor ers may not ser@e on tBe committeeO Bowe@er8 committeeregulations pro@ide tBat tBe committee sBould represent tBeir @iews.

< oreign wor ers in Saudi Arabia8 estimated to represent a tBird of tBe countryEs population8 are not protected under labor law and are routinely exploited.4any women migrants are employed as BouseBold domestic wor ers8 and areespecially at ris for Buman rigBts abuses due to tBeir isolation in pri@ate Bomesand tBeir exclusion from many employment protections. Nages are set byemployers and @ary according to tBe type of wor performed and tBenationality of tBe wor er.

Recent Government Initiatives Affecting Rights

%Be #ommittee for tBe Promotion of &irtue and Pre@ention of &ice announced onune 568 9667 tBe creation of a Gdepartment of rules and regulationsH to ensure tBe

acti@ities of commission members comply witB tBe law. !igBteen commissionmembers ; mutawain > were detained and Fuestioned une :. %Be go@ernmental

)ational Society for *uman (igBts critici ed tBe beBa@ior of tBe religious police in4ay in its first report ; Arabic text >. In 4ay 96628 tBe interior ministry issued adecree stating tBat GtBe role of tBe commission will end after it arrests tBe culprit orculprits and Bands tBem o@er to police8 wBo will tBen decide wBetBer to refer tBemto tBe public prosecutor.H Mutawain Bad until recently enJoyed uncBallenged

powers to arrest8 detain8 and interrogate tBose suspected of moral infractions.

Ding AbdullaB decreed tBe establisBment of a go@ernment Buman rigBts agency onSeptember 598 966 to Gprotect Buman rigBts and spread awareness about tBem Rin eeping witB tBe pro@isions of Islamic law.H %Be organi ation is cBaired byformer go@ernment official DBalid al


15/21


In 966:8 tBe go@ernment permitted tBe first @isit of an international Buman rigBtsorgani ation8 *uman (igBts NatcB8 but tBis was not repeated in 966+.

%Be go@ernment @iews its interpretation of Islamic law as tBe only necessary guideto protect Buman rigBts.

In 966:8 tBe go@ernment publicly ac nowledged Buman rigBts abuses by securityforces and began a training program in interpersonal s ills for 4utawwaEin. %BePresident of tBe #ommittee to Promote &irtue and Pre@ent &ice ac nowledged

publicly tBat mista es Bad been made and tBat tBe 4utawwaEin wBo o@ersteppedtBeir autBority were subJect to disciplinary measures. 0uring tBe year 4utawwaEinabuses Bad attracted greater public attention tBen in tBe past.

In 4arcB 966+8 Ding aBd appro@ed tBe establisBment of tBe first independentBuman rigBts organi ation8 tBe )ational Society for *uman (igBts. It was formedfollowing a Buman rigBts conference in 3ctober entitled G*uman (igBts in Peaceand Nar.H %Be conference concluded witB tBe issuing of tBe (iyadB 0eclaration .



www.fride.org

5
http://www.saudiembassy.net/2003News/Statements/StateDetail.asp?cIndex=325http://www.carnegieendowment.org/http://www.fride.org/http://www.saudiembassy.net/2003News/Statements/StateDetail.asp?cIndex=325http://www.carnegieendowment.org/http://www.fride.org/


16/21


Political Forces

Political Parties

Political parties are proBibited.

&ivil Societ$

%Be main pri@ate sector umbrella organi ation is tBe #ouncil of Saudi #Bambers of#ommerce and Industry 8 an influential organi ation tBat Belps mediate betweenSaudi companies and tBe state.

Saudi reformers are a loose networ 8 in wBicB a core group of members Ba@e in

recent years initiated petitions and sougBt to attract tBe signatures of li e


17/21


%Bere are two prominent political opposition mo@ements8 botB of wBicB operatefrom outside of Saudi ArabiaM tBe #ommittee for tBe 0efense of ,egitimate (igBts;#0,(> and tBe 4o@ement for Islamic (eform in Saudi Arabia ;4I(A>. %Be#0,( was establisBed in 5CC: by a group of Islamist academics and clerics to

pusB for tBe range of Buman rigBts tBat tBey asserted are recogni ed by Islam8

including political participation. It was Fuic ly disbanded by tBe go@ernment andin 5CC+ two founders8 4oBamed al


18/21


Election Results

4unicipal elections Ba@e ta en place in tBree rounds for Balf of tBe members of57 municipal councils. %Be otBer Balf will be appointed by tBe go@ernment.!lections for tBe (iyadB pro@ince too place on ebruary 568 for tBe + soutBern

pro@inces and tBe eastern pro@ince on 4arcB :8 and for tBe rest of tBe country onApril 95.

'ecause candidates ran as indi@iduals8 not as members of parties8 election resultsare difficult to interpret. 'ut it appears tBat SBiEa won most of tBe seats in !asternPro@ince. #andidates wBo Bad clerical support most of tBe seats on tBe municipalcouncil in otBer areas. #lic &$& for detailed results.



www.fride.org

5
http://www.saudielection.com/en/election_centers.php?id=23&PHPSESSID=93bf700e0de90002a0b32ff378e35077http://www.carnegieendowment.org/http://www.fride.org/http://www.saudielection.com/en/election_centers.php?id=23&PHPSESSID=93bf700e0de90002a0b32ff378e35077http://www.carnegieendowment.org/http://www.fride.org/


19/21


&onstitutional Revision

(e@isions of tBe 'asic ,aw are carried out by decree.



www.fride.org

5C


20/21


&orruption

%Bere is widespread public perception of corruption witBin tBe royal family8facilitated by tBe lac of transparency in go@ernment accounts. %Be royal family is

percei@ed to abuse go@ernment funds8 property rigBts and contracts. (oyalinfluence is also tBougBt to abuse ci@il and criminal Justice procedure. (oyalfamily members are seen to interfere or profiteer in contract awards8 tBe allocationof money from oil sales8 tBe profits from state


21/21


Ratification of International &onventions

International #o@enant on #i@il and Political (igBts ;##P(>M not ratified

International #o@enant on !conomic8 Social and #ultural (igBts ;#!S#(>M notratified

%Be #on@ention on tBe !limination of All orms of %orture and 3tBer #ruel8InBuman or 0egrading %reatment or PunisBment ;#A%>M September 9:8 5CC7

%Be International #on@ention on tBe !limination of All orms of (acial0iscrimination ;#!(0>M September 9:8 5CC7

%Be #on@ention of on tBe !limination of All orms of 0iscrimination against

Nomen ;#!0AN>M 3ctober 78 9666 %Be #on@ention on tBe (igBts of tBe #Bild ;#(#>M anuary 928 5CC2



www fride org

95

saudi arabia aps

Documents