204:, and the government strictly limited this right in practice. The government prohibited the establishment of political parties or any group it considered as opposing the regime or challenging the King's authority. All associations must therefore be licensed and comply with its rules and regulations. The HRFS have had no response to their request for a governmental license, however, they have continued to pursue their purpose. As the group is formally 'unlicensed', it remains unclear which group activities are permitted and which could draw punishment from the government. Furthermore, without a license the group may not raise any operating funds which consequently limits its activities. Despite this, as of 2016, the HRFS continues to operate independently as a non-government organisation and is still recognised by governmental organisations.
391:
In working toward promoting and defending the rule of law, protecting freedoms of expression and association, and abolishing discrimination in Saudi society, the HRFS has compiled a report on the rule of law in Saudi Arabia and its impact on the freedoms of the Saudi people titled "Unholy
Trespass:
212:
The aim of the HRFS is to ultimately defend and protect against human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. The HRFS believes in freedom of expression and association, as well as condemning all discrimination against gender or religious beliefs in Saudi
Arabian society. The Human Rights First Society
395:
The report holds that many of the unwritten laws in Saudi Arabia are "enormously regressive" and "ultimately lethal" to human rights. A nation state has a legal obligation to abide by and to enact legislation cogent with the treaties it has ratified. Furthermore, pursuant to the law of treaties, a
233:
and the founder and president of the Human Rights First
Society (Saudi Arabia). Despite being previously imprisoned for political activism and barred from travel, al-Mugaiteeb continues to condemn human rights abuses and speak out against discrimination. Although al-Mugaiteeb was denied a licence
192:
In 2002, HRFS was created and led by
Ibrahim al-Mugaiteeb whom applied to the Saudi government for legal recognition of the group. However, the application was denied. Although the HRFS was not granted governmental status, As of 2009, it remained unrecognised, but was allowed by the government to
220:
In fulfilling the role of the HRFS to protect the freedom of expression and association as well as condemning discrimination, the HRFS may release reports to Saudi officials as a recommendation. The reports essentially serve as a 'road map' as to whether certain laws in Saudi are in violation of
419:
and denying women equal legal rights The report then discusses how those laws give the Saudi government broad powers to abuse the human rights of Saudi citizens, with particular attention given to the vulnerability of women, religious minorities, migrant workers and children
Finally, the report
307:
newspaper that women will not be able to run as candidates or vote in the elections. In response to this admission, Saudi election officials gave logistical concerns for this reasoning such as the lack of separate voting booths for women, and the fact women did not have identification cards.
221:
international human rights conventions or treaties, or that these laws, when they exist, are not respected by the Saudi authorities. As well as making recommendations to officials, the HRFS may also welcome measures by government officials to create more accepted laws.
339:
over human rights took place in front of government ministry buildings in Saudi Arabia throughout 2011 and into 2012. Anti-government protests demanding release of prisoners held without charge or trial continued in various cities in addition to protests demanding a
177:
281:. This article is relevant for the purposes of the HRFS in which it will use all peaceful means to advocate that the Saudi government respects this article in situations where human rights violations may become evident.
298:
were the first to be held in Saudi Arabia since the 1960s. In the elections, male citizens over the age of 21 were able to vote for half of the members of their municipal councils. On 11 October 2004, Prince
610:
420:
demonstrates where the Saudi government fails to adhere to its own domestic laws in the practice of its treatment of Saudi citizens, violating human rights which it has itself professed to protect in its
579:
234:
permitting his organisation to function as a government organisation, he continues to operate the HRFS in the
Kingdom at his own risk and has done so since the introduction of the HRFS in 2002.
277:
Article 26 of the Basic Law of
Governance holds that "The State shall protect human rights in accordance with the Sharia". Sharia is the religious legal system governing the members of the
1064:
184:. The HRFS stands for applying the rule of law, freedoms of expression and association, and abolishing all discrimination in Saudi society on the basis of gender or religious beliefs.
879:
323:
in that women would not be allowed to participate. He said that the minimum criteria for the elections should include all members being elected by the voters, women should
707:
783:
363:, HRFS said that 100 protestors remained under arrest following the 15–18 March protests in and near Qatif and that some had been tortured. Alongside the HRFS, the
837:
602:
312:
felt that the fact the officials gave practical reasons for this non-participation rather than religious or gender reasons was a success for women's campaigning
1069:
348:
for the
Eastern province. Throughout the duration of the protests, a number of protesters were shot dead by Saudi authorities following chants aimed against the
254:
embodying the Basic Law of
Governance for Saudi Arabia. After taking into consideration the interests of the public and with a view to progress the State, the
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364:
169:
563:
1074:
1054:
217:
and support victims of human rights violations, using "all peaceful means to advocate that the Saudi government respects and defends all human rights."
1059:
934:"ACPRA Demands the Immediate Unconditional Release of its Co-Founder, Mohammed al-Bejadi". Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association 11 March 2011.
320:
316:
295:
902:
865:
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State that has signed but not ratified a treaty is obliged to refrain from "acts which would defeat the object and purpose" of that treaty.
353:
468:
173:
243:
336:
711:
1000:
473:
412:
793:
180:. The HRFS was initiated as an organisation dedicated to protecting and defending human rights in Saudi Arabia according to
433:
375:
on 21 March by the
Internal Security Agency. The protests continued calling for the release of these prisoners, for the
986:
The Effect of Ratification by the Parties is to Make a Treaty Binding" International Law: A treatise, Volume 1 page 676
360:
300:
648:"Unholy Trespass: How the Saudi Legal Code Violates International Law" Human Rights First Society - Saudi Arabia 2010
29:
This article is about the Saudi Arabian human rights organisation. For the US-based human rights organisation, see
438:
421:
255:
197:
851:
567:
368:
383:, for equal representation in key offices and for reforms in political positions, as they feel marginalised.
672:
214:
165:
658:
818:
376:
201:
513:
399:
The report details the areas in which the Saudi Legal Code is a violation of Human Rights Law including:
229:
As of March 2011, Ibrahim al-Mugaiteeb is the head of HRFS. al-Mugaiteeb is a leading human rights
912:
874:
247:
788:
1029:
965:
324:
686:
168:. It is one of the few independent groups in Saudi Arabia monitoring human rights, along with the
416:
30:
408:
945:"Shia Muslims Protest in Eastern Saudi Arabia". International Business Times. 16 April 2011.
571:
478:
153:
907:
309:
263:
145:
1034:
553:
Saudi Arabia: Briefing on the Current Status of Human Rights and Reform, October 4, 2006
575:
733:
1043:
984:
404:
349:
506:"Human Rights First Society - Human Rights Monitoring and Advocacy in Saudi Arabia"
400:
341:
259:
161:
157:
87:
73:
319:
would "be of very little significance" if they were held in a similar way to the
345:
632:
1030:
Unholy Trespass: How the Saudi Legal Code Violates International Human Rights
967:
Unholy Trespass: How the Saudi Legal Code Violates International Human Rights
415:
and prolonged detention, secretive and unfair trial proceedings, torture and
392:
How the Saudi Legal Code Violates International Human Rights" (The Report).
178:
Association for the Protection and Defense of Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia
870:
540:
372:
230:
822:
380:
564:"Women remain barred from voting as Saudi Arabia announces elections"
304:
267:
251:
1024:
17:
118:
278:
271:
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came into force on 1 March 1992. The Basic Law of Governance is a
181:
603:"Saudi police 'open fire on civilians' as protests gain momentum"
356:, Nayef, calling them "terrorists", "butchers" and "criminals".
1001:"The 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, Article 18"
1019:
702:
700:
698:
696:
505:
109:
327:, and the voting age should be decreased from 21 to 18".
813:
811:
635:. Center for Human Rights Documentation and Research.
104:
96:
80:
69:
61:
43:
819:"Saudi Shi'ites Call for Bahrain Troop Withdrawal"
673:"Saudi Activists Face Long Fight for Human Rights"
315:HRFS' head, Ibrahim al-Mugaiteeb, stated that the
535:
533:
531:
371:to be released following his arbitrary arrest in
1065:Human rights organisations based in Saudi Arabia
424:and which is protected under international law.
854:. The Global Mail, Jess Hill. 24 February 2012.
689:. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
747:"Saudi Arabia Holds Municipal Elections". CNN.
303:, the Saudi interior minister, announced to a
8:
903:"Hundreds of Saudi Shi'ites protest in east"
644:
642:
365:Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association
170:Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association
36:
866:"Saudi urged to free 100 Shiite protesters"
758:"Saudi Women Can't Vote, Run in Elections".
500:
498:
496:
35:
687:"2008 Human Rights Report: Saudi Arabia"
659:"Saudi Polls, Aid Sweeteners Not Enough"
469:"2008 Human Rights Report: Saudi Arabia"
463:
461:
459:
457:
455:
453:
367:(ACPRA) called for the ACPRA co-founder
852:"The Growing Rebellion in Saudi Arabia"
449:
238:The Basic Law for Governing the Kingdom
960:
958:
956:
954:
952:
317:2011 Saudi Arabian municipal elections
838:"Saudi Police Open Fire on Civilians"
582:from the original on 11 November 2011
262:-like charter in accordance with the
7:
1020:Human Rights First Society (English)
836:Cockburn, Patrick (5 October 2011).
613:from the original on 25 January 2012
601:Cockburn, Patrick (5 October 2011).
1050:2002 establishments in Saudi Arabia
1025:Human Rights First Society (Arabic)
149:
882:from the original on 30 March 2012
661:. Omar Hasan, Mail & Guardian.
477:. 25 February 2009. Archived from
174:Society for Development and Change
25:
1075:Saudi Arabian democracy movements
1055:Organizations established in 2002
516:from the original on 2 March 2011
244:Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
37:Human Rights First Society (HRFS)
1070:2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests
1060:Organizations of the Arab Spring
1035:Human Rights Watch: Saudi Arabia
792:. 24 March 2011. Archived from
901:Jason Benham (25 March 2011).
825:, Jason Benham. 17 March 2011.
474:United States State Department
1:
770:Interview: Dr Hatoon al-Fassi
708:"The Basic Law of Governance"
543:. Human Rights First Society.
359:On 24 March 2011, during the
973:, Human Rights First Society
633:"Human Rights First Society"
434:Human rights in Saudi Arabia
361:2011 Saudi Arabian protests
331:2011 Saudi Arabian protests
49:; 22 years ago
1091:
510:Human Rights First Society
248:Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
138:Human Rights First Society
28:
439:Basic Law of Saudi Arabia
256:'Basic Law of Governance'
675:. Trib live, Betsy Hiel.
568:The National (Abu Dhabi)
369:Mohammed Saleh al-Bejadi
321:2005 municipal elections
225:Structure and leadership
215:human rights violations
166:Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
160:which seeks to promote
150:جمعية حقوق الإنسان أولا
39:جمعية حقوق الإنسان أولا
387:Unholy Trespass Report
377:Peninsula Shield Force
285:Statements and reports
270:and does not override
202:freedom of association
407:, criminalization of
379:to be withdrawn from
301:Nayef bin Abd al-Aziz
354:Minister of Interior
100:"All peaceful means"
65:Ibrahim al-Mugaiteeb
296:municipal elections
188:Founding and status
40:
840:. The Independent.
417:capital punishment
193:exist informally.
31:Human Rights First
878:. 24 March 2011.
578:. 23 March 2011.
541:"About: The HRFS"
411:and association,
405:invasion of homes
266:understanding of
200:does not address
182:Islamic teachings
134:
133:
16:(Redirected from
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915:on 29 March 2011
911:. Archived from
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796:on 21 March 2012
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710:. Archived from
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481:on 2 April 2011
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310:Hatoon al-Fassi
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250:issued a Royal
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198:Saudi Basic Law
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156:and non-profit
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789:Karavali Times
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794:the original
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734:"Sharia Law"
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260:constitution
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162:human rights
158:organisation
141:
137:
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88:Saudi Arabia
74:Human rights
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784:"Saudi aid"
409:free speech
346:legislature
325:participate
1044:Categories
617:15 January
445:References
576:Bloomberg
294:The 2005
290:Elections
115:(English)
919:25 March
886:25 March
880:Archived
871:Al Ahram
800:24 March
611:Archived
586:22 March
580:Archived
520:24 March
514:Archived
485:25 March
428:See also
373:Buraidah
337:protests
231:activist
176:and the
130:(Arabic)
81:Location
76:advocacy
823:Reuters
422:own law
381:Bahrain
305:Kuwaiti
246:, King
164:in the
152:) is a
105:Website
70:Purpose
62:Founder
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44:Founded
268:Sharia
264:Salafi
252:Decree
172:, the
146:Arabic
127:/spdhr
125:/saudi
121:.anhri
97:Method
1004:(PDF)
971:(PDF)
772:, PBS
718:1 May
335:Many
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888:2011
802:2011
720:2016
619:2012
588:2011
522:2011
487:2011
403:and
352:and
344:and
242:The
208:Aims
196:The
142:HRFS
136:The
123:.net
112:.org
54:2002
47:2002
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875:AFP
119:www
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