Islam Times - National Association for Human Rights Reports on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Islam Times - The National Association for Human Rights revealed in its latest report that the total number of prisoners currently being held in the Kingdom mounted to around 4396 persons, of which 240 persons were still under investigation, 1137 awaiting their transfer to the General Attorney and 1450 persons which cases were still being studied.

Out of the total number about prisoners were transferred to the Specialized Penal Court, 742 were sentenced, 473 awaiting sentencing and 269 still waiting for their case to be brought forward. The report assured that the specialized authorities were following legal proceedings to the letter, making sure that prisoners were humanely treated and their rights respected.

He pointed out that the jails administration kept in-mates separated in function of their crimes in order not to psychologically affect other lesser criminal and not encourage cultural criminality. The report was issued after numerous visits done by a delegation of the Association to the jails in several areas of the Kingdom and the organization of meetings with all the jail personnel and the in-mates.

It's worth mentioning that the Association suspects the presence of underground prisons where tens of thousands of prisoners are believed to be held, beyond the grasp of the law.

The association of civil and political rights in Saudi Arabia which was founded by 11 activists and academics in 2009 declared previously that the government arrested people without ever holding trials due to political reasons.