Saudi Arabia supports human rights, respects international charters

THE column under the heading “Trump’s break with tradition” published in The Star and written by Mr Azad Essa on Wednesday, May 17, refers.

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia expresses its concerns about the inaccuracies in the article, in a deliberate distortion of an important political event involving two countries with strong ties with the Republic of South Africa.

In response to the false allegations by Mr Essa, the embassy would like to clarify the following:

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was among the first countries in the world that voiced and provided support for human rights and offered respect to all international charters in accordance with sharia that guarantee human rights, and protect his/her blood, money, honour and dignity. Also to protect women’s rights through issuance of a number of regulations and legislations.

Although such efforts were clear and made available to individuals, organisations and states, some human rights-related reports and some countries and individuals which try to build fake situations by emptying the contents of human rights from their noble significance and politicising them, have opted to neglect the cultural and religious privacy of individuals and nations and, instead, attack their basic rights and, using a double standard, close an eye towards the religious and cultural identities of others.

With regard to the allegation that Saudi Arabia refuses to register legal, human rights or civil organisations and reduces women’s rights, we would like to explain the following:

A number of civil rights organisations operate in Saudi Arabia in absolute freedom, led by the Council of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, which has six women in its membership.

Regarding women’s rights, Saudi Arabia has amended the rules and legislations to enable women to increase their participation in developing the society.

Women occupy nearly one third of the seats at the Shura Council (parliament).

The percentage of participation of women in the last election reached 85%.

The percentage of Saudi women in various education phases was around 65%, surpassing the men in that field. A number of female students have excelled in their fields of study and achieved useful discoveries in medicine, pharmacology, chemistry and other scientific research.

The percentage of women participation in business has also increased.

Saudi women owned 267 446 enterprises in 2016. The percentage of women ownership of private projects has reached 19.2%; and the loans granted to women from the state for female business projectsreached 21% in 2016.

There are no systematic restrictions (legal) imposed that infringe on the rights of women in movement and choice of place to reside.

Saudi Arabia has been in the forefront of combating terrorism, those that support terrorism and all forms of terror financing, working in close co-operation with countries around the world, including the US.

Saudi Arabia and a coalition of regional allies carried out operation “Decisive Storm” in response to requests for assistance from the internationally recognised and democratically elected Yemeni government of President Hadi.

This was to defend and support the legitimate government of Yemen and prevent Houthi rebels from taking over the country, because their crimes against the Yemeni people and their attack on the legitimacy of their government will pose a threat to security and stability in the region.

Saudi Arabia called for the implementation of the UN Security Council’s resolution adopted number 2216 in April 2015 to provide a framework for resolving the war in Yemen, sanction the Houthis and their ally, former President Ali Abdullah Salih, and demands the withdrawal of their forces from the capital Sana’a and the reinstatement of the government of President Hadi. Second Secretary Royal Embassy Arabia of Saudi