The Saudi Sectarian Judicial System

The Committee   for  the  Defense  of  Human  Rights  in the  Arabian Peninsula

(CDHRAP)

DATE  : 9 / 10 / 2007  

NO  : 138/ H / 2007

The Saudi regime is still adopting the methods of persecution , maltreatment and violation against Shi'a minority in the Arabian Peninsula . In last September four Shi'a judges (Sheikh Mohammed al-Obaidan , Sheikh Ghalib Al Hammad , Sheikh Abdul Rasul al-Beiyati and Sheikh Ali al-Mohsen ) in the religious inheritance and Islamic endowments of Qatif and Al-Hasa courts submitted their resignation to the Justice Ministry in protest against the deteriorating conditions in their own branches .

There are two Shi'a courts in Saudi Arbia in Al-Hasa and in Qatif, which base their decisions on Shi'a school of jurisprudence and exercise jurisdiction over cases involving civil suits regarding marriage, divorce, domestic issues , inheritance and Islamic endowments .

The Saudi regime tried to have jurisdiction over these courts and make over the resources of Shi'a religious endowments to Grand Court .

The Grand Court also interferences with Shi'a judicial affairs in the Eastern Province  and tries to solve Shi'a cases according to the officially sanctioned version of Islam , and make those courts only governmental offices followed the official authorities without independence .

The Committee   for  the  Defense  of  Human  Rights  in the  Arabian Peninsula calls the Saudi regime to stop the arbitrary interference with Shi'a affairs and warns of the regime's attempts to influence direct and indirect interference on the privacy of Shi'a ٍminority . The Saudi regime should ensure the independence of the judiciary in accordance with international standards and abrogate the laws which provide the executive with the right to interfere in judicial matters.

The CDHRAP appeals the international community, international human rights and non-governmental organizations to be aware to Saudi human rights violations against Shi'a of Arabian Peninsula , and to show their attitude towards these practices . They should urge the Saudi regime to abrogate laws which provide the executive with the right to interfere in judicial matters.