Prisoners' Rights in the International Conventions and Saudi Arabia's Laws

by

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION1

Background of the Study1

Problem Statement2

Purpose of the Study2

Research Questions2

Significance of the Study3

LITERATURE REVIEW3

METHODOLOGY8

Timeline9

REFERENCES10

PRISONERS' RIGHTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND SAUDI ARABIA'S LAWS

Introduction

Background of the Study

The issue of human rights has been a primary focus of nations that are trying to become more modernized. This is especially true in the Middle East. The Islamic countries are struggling to become more modern, but many cultural and religious practices are preventing them from doing so. As a result of these practices, individual human rights continue to be abused. Central Arabia most exemplifies the typical Middle Eastern forms of family life and social organization at its perceived “best,” retaining such elements as slavery, large harems, eunuchs, despotic monarchy, and bodily mutilation as a form of punishment (Wishah 2006 p71). One of the grossest violations of human rights occurring in Muslim nations is slavery.

Saudi Arabia is a prime example. It is a nation headed by a Royal family and governed by a Constitutional monarchy. This monarchy consists of ruling family members and religious leaders. In the 1990s, the legitimacy of the monarchy has rested on the house of Saud ruling in consultation with the 'ulama' as well as serving the interests of other religious constituencies (Weil 2007 p395). This occurs through specific religious organizations institutionalized within the state power structure. The country still shows signs of slavery. Saudi Arabia comprises the main portion of the Arabian Peninsula.

To understand human rights compliance, one must first have a basic understanding of human rights and of the evolution of international human rights. At its most basic level, human rights are those inherent, fundamental rights to which all people are entitled. Many peoples and nations and states believe that such rights do exist and should be protected. This belief can be found in several countries' documents. Although most acknowledge that human beings have fundamental rights, listing and describing exactly what those rights are being a more difficult task.

Problem Statement

Due to the many conventions and treaties related to human rights in general and the prisoners' human rights in particular, the current study seeks to highlight these rights whether in the international conventions and law or in legislations and laws of Saudi Arabia specially all the Council of Ministers' resolutions and Acts regarding the prisoners and detainees' rights (Punamaki et al 2008 p337). The study tries to shed light on these rights and the amendments thereof in Saudi Arabia and compare them to those that have been adopted in the international law and the United Nations conventions. The researcher strives to clarify these rights; analyze them and to show similarities and differences among them.

Purpose of the Study

The main focus of this study is to examine the prisoners' rights in the international conventions and Saudi Arabia's laws.

Research Questions

This study focuses on the following research questions:

What are the prisoners' rights according to the International Law and conventions?

What are the prisoners' rights according to the Saudi rules and regulations?

What are the similarities ...