AFP
Saudi Arabia flag.
The Saudi government has expressed its rejection of any foreign interference in the affairs of the Kingdom’s judiciary, against the background of international and international condemnations of the ruling issued in the country against the human rights activist, Loujain Al-Hathloul.
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Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, said in his interview with the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, that “the kingdom enjoys a fair and independent judiciary, and in no way accepts any prejudice to the sovereignty of its judicial system by any party.”
Al-Wasil stressed, according to the official “SPA” agency, today, Wednesday, “the kingdom’s rejection of any dictates to interfere in the judicial affairs in the country.”
He explained that his country “during the past few years has taken important historical steps in the field of women’s rights and empowerment at all levels, and that this came under the directives of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,” King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and “direct interest” from his Crown Prince, Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
Al-Wasil called on the High Commissioner for Human Rights to “move away from politicizing human rights issues and respect the sovereignty and independence of states and the provisions of their judicial bodies.”
The United Nations Human Rights Office has previously expressed its concern about the decision of the Saudi judicial authorities to convict Al-Hathloul, calling on the Kingdom to release her early as soon as possible.
On December 28, a Saudi court specialized in terrorism cases sentenced Al-Hathloul to 5 years and 8 months in prison, in a trial process that sparked international condemnation.
Al-Hathloul, 31, has been detained by the authorities since May 15, 2018, after she was arrested along with at least 12 women’s rights activists.
Source: SPA + agencies
