Human Rights Watch Issues 2008 Annual Report

2 February 2008

Human Rights Watch issued its 2008 annual report on January 31 . The press release focused on the poor conditions of human rights in Saudi Arabia.

The report said that international and domestic pressure to implement human rights reforms have considerably weakened and the government undertook no major reforms in 2007. Curbs on freedom of association and expression, unfair trials, arbitrary detention, mistreatment and torture of detainees, restrictions on freedom of movement, and lack of official accountability remain serious concerns. Saudi law and policies discriminate against women, foreign workers, and religious minorities, especially Shia and Ismaili Saudis.