HRW blasts Saudi counter-terrorism policy

LONDON, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- The judicial system established in Saudi Arabia to handle the detention of alleged terrorist suspects is little more than a facade, Human Rights Watch claims.

Saudi Arabia has detained indefinitely more than 9,000 alleged terrorist suspects under a 2003 program, shuttling many through a religious "re-education" program instead of judicial review.

In October, Riyadh announced it would let some suspects stand trial, noting in July that more than 300 suspects were convicted.

In a 27-page report, Human Rights Watch says the domestic intelligence agency known as Mabahith has prevented fair and transparent justice from occurring in Saudi Arabia.

"Saudi Arabia's response to terrorism for years has been to lock up thousands of suspects and throw away the key," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "The authorities made believe that religious counseling could replace trials, and now they are pretending that convictions after secret trials can legitimize continued detention."

The report goes on to state that the Mabahith rehabilitation system is not an adequate substitute for the right to challenges one's detention, saying the "involuntary program" is not appropriate for detainees who have not been convicted of a crime before a court of law.

Human Rights Watch calls on Riyadh to either release or try any remaining detainees subjected to the Mabahith system, saying the program is a facade for conventional justice.

"Justice has to be fair and must be seen to be fair," said Whitson.