Saudi Arabia: Security, democracy and human rights

The elements of security, democracy and human rights go hand- in-hand in any country. There would not be any peace and security without the right to free speech and freedom of lifestyle and protection of the rights of individuals. True security is largely psychological, requiring that a person feels secure from within before from without.

Peace does not prevail unless individuals are respected through a system that guarantees the right to free opinion and speech.

If we are to know anything about these rights in Saudi Arabia, we need to answer the following three questions:

* To what extent does good security exist in Saudi Arabia and why?

Despite the fact that no one can claim that a country is free from crime, countries differ, however, widely in this respect. When a country is characterized by an open-door policy, social and economic mobility and the intrusion of many outside cultures alien to its own and unacceptable by its moral codes makes the possibility of crime loom larger.

If you were to stay overnight in one of the world's capitals and you were not woken up by shots fired or police sirens chasing some criminal, then you are very lucky. Now, what do you think if you were only woken up by hearing the muazzin calling people for the dawn prayer?

This is what happens in Saudi Arabia. It is not common there to see crimes such as murder, robbery and like during the day or the night. Crime in Saudi Arabia falls into the lowest of statistics. This is due to three reasons:

* First, the Islamic law (Shari'a) is both accepted and applied in the country, and all Saudi Arabian citizens are Muslim and adhere to Islamic teachings willingly and devotedly and see Islam as the source of their unity and the protector against future uncertainties.

* Second, Saudi Arabians greatly appreciate the peace and security they enjoy today. Before the coming of the Saudi Arabian state, in 1932, violations of security, killing, theft, invasion of tribes by one another were common. When the late King Abdul Aziz united the country under his leadership, people began to enjoy peace and tranquility. The carrying of personal weapons became unnecessary as the need for personal protection was no longer required.

* Third, there is constant security for everyone provided by the Ministry of Interior, which grew from a collection of police stations to an organization covering a wide range of services, including border control, public security, civil defense, issuing passports and naturalization, controlling traffic, civil affairs, road security and pilgrims' security.

One crime that demonstrated the skill of Saudi Arabian security forces took place in Riyadh in 1995. A car full of explosives was detonated in front of an office belonging to the Saudi National Guard. No one expected the criminals to be Saudi Arabian citizens with ideas foreign to Islam and to Saudi Arabian values.

The accident, in which seven people were killed, five of whom were Americans, was widely condemned inside and outside Saudi Arabia. It took only about four months for the Saudi Arabian Bureau of Public Investigation to trace the criminals, arrest them and present them to a Shari'a court. The four criminals were beheaded in public after confessing to the crime.

From time to time, the Minister of Interior announces to the public that some crimes have been committed. After the conviction of the criminals through the judicial system, the ministry carries out court judgments. Many of the big crimes announced were committed by some expatriate workers. Crimes such as armed robbery and child kidnapping for ransom were unknown in Saudi Arabia until the coming of expatriate workers. Coming from countries where crime is widespread, some workers did not realize the tough rules against criminals in the kingdom and pay the strict and proper price for their crimes.

As for smugglers of narcotics, some argue that applying capital punishment would be appropriate especially when considering the large number of their victims around the world and the effort, money and time spent in chasing drug traffickers and the dangers to police officers. Indeed, many among these officers risk their life as they fight drug dealers and smugglers in a seemingly endless war.

The application of capital punishment in Saudi Arabia has been very effective in fighting the spread of narcotics throughout the Kingdom. As with the application of other punishments, such as amputating the hand of a thief, the same principal applies to drug traffickers. Shari'a law is full of justice and mercy. This worldly life is not the end of life, and, therefore, any punishment in this life is seen as purification for the criminal from punishment in the hereafter. The punishments may be seen by some as harsh and severe but they do serve as deterrents for those who may think that committing a crime leads only to a light punishment. Another aspect which is often overlooked is protection of the rights of the victims and the agony they go through.

We should not think, however, that cutting the hand of a convicted thief is automatically done as soon as a theft takes place. There are ways to confirm that the crime was committed under unjustifiable reasons and that the accused gets all rights to defend himself. Conviction takes place only under very strict procedures, which are verified by a body of "Screening Commission" judges. Judgments are finally endorsed by the High Judiciary Council, the Kingdom's highest Judicial authority.

* Is there a democratic rule in Saudi Arabia?

Is there a democracy in Saudi Arabia? Before answering this question by saying yes, it must be said that one of the democratic principals is to let any nation choose the lifestyle it sees fit for itself. In reality, every nation in the world rules itself in a way that is peculiar to its own circumstances.

What are the characteristics, customs and traditions in Saudi Arabia? Saudi Arabia originates from the heart of Arabia, from where Prophet Muhammad was sent by God to all mankind. All Saudi Arabians are Arab Muslims and strongly adhere to Islamic values and Arab traditions. Arab morals are based on honesty, generosity, cooperation and helping the needy.

But does this mean that people had no choice in selecting their leaders or deciding what is best for them at any given time? Not at all. Although both the ruler and the ruled have chosen the Shari'a as their constitution, putting it into practice requires deep consultation and good judgment. This is why it is so important to apply the system of "Shura" in government.

Shura, literally, means consultation. Those members of society who are defined as scholars and wise and experienced men in running people's affairs are called upon to study, evaluate and decide on state affairs. Management of Shura is left, however, to the people.

As the country developed in various economic and social aspects, the number of technocrats increased and modern education coupled with political and social stability, produced young Saudi Arabian men and women who aspire to having a greater role in running the country. In 1992, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd, took a historical step in giving more power to people in government affairs. He issued four laws organizing the "System of Governing", the "Council of Ministers", the "Councils of Regions" and the "Council of Shura". These introduced ways of running the government and the council of ministers. But both the Council of Regions and the Council of Shura were entirely innovative.

The Council of Shura is composed of a Chairman and 60 members, who are selected for their personal qualification merits. Their task is to decide on issues referred to them by the government or initiated from within the council itself.

One of the unique styles of government in Saudi Arabia is the "Open-Door" Policy under which the King, the Crown Prince, the Emires and the ministers open their doors to citizens to express views freely and voice their concerns, complaints and requests to the officials and exchange views about them. Decisions by the officials may be taken on the spot or channeled through government departments with a recommendation to do their best for the interest of the citizen. The official may for example recommend that red tape be eased to speed up the process.

* To what extent does Saudi Arabia guarantee human rights?

In any society, human rights mean that an individual shall be entitled to live as an independent and free human being. No compulsion, transgression or interference in his private affairs shall be forced on him. He must be given all rights to defend himself when accused and to express his viewpoints freely. He has the right to live, learn and earn his living while preserving his dignity and self-respect.

All citizens and residents in Saudi Arabia enjoy full rights according to Islamic law under which man is seen most valued by God. Since he is blessed by God with freedom and reasoning, he is responsible for his deeds.

The International Declaration on Human Rights looks at a person irrespective of individual differences and characteristics unique to him. Therefore, we cannot say that human rights are automatically given aside from the religious context, social customs and traditions of any society. All classical Greek philosophers had pointed out that uncontrolled freedom leads to chaos and violence which threatens the preservation of the human race.

In principal, however, it was not possible for the government of Saudi Arabia to sign the International Declaration on Human Rights as well as the international document related to the cultural, social and economic rights sponsored by the United Nations.

The reason is that the two documents contain statements objectionable to Islamic law. It is worth mentioning here that human rights in Islam come from the legislation of God; the Lord of all people, at all times and places. However, human rights in these documents come from humans who are necessarily subject to human infallibility. Moreover, the formation of these documents was so much affected by the influence of Western ideas, especially those of the French, British and American constitutions, which overlook the fact that one-third of the world's population are Muslim. These Muslims adhere to a philosophy different from those reflected in the Western-style international declarations.

In theory as well as in practice, Saudi Arabia is following a clear example of giving, protecting and defending human rights according to the law of God. All citizens enjoy the right to free education, free health care and social welfare and opportunities to excel in all spheres of life.