Human Rights Under The Sharia Law

in Saudi Arabia

Shaima Najim

PLS 241

Professor Marius R.

April 2, 2015
 Saudi Arabia Under Sharia Law
The absolute monarchy of the Saudi

Arabian government is strongly

influenced by the Sunni branch of

Islam, rather than the shi’a (Taylor,

February 9).

Strictly enforce Sharia Law (Taylor,

February 9)

Ally of the U.S. (Taylor, February 9)

 Saudi Arabian Rulers
Former king Abdullah ruled
under Sharia law, but passed
away at age 90

Salman, the younger brother

of former king is ruling after
him (Mullen, 2015).
 What is the Sharia Law?

Islam Religious law: Sharia

Law (Elliot, 2011).
Set of rules and morals that
governs the muslim people
(Elliot, 2011).
Koran defines punishments for
the crimes committed (Taylor,
February 9).
 Mutawa Police
The Mutawwa are the Islamic religious public

police in Saudi Arabia that make sure these rules

are obeyed (“Saudi Arabia's religious police

'contains extremists,” 2014). Those who disobey

the law can be punished in many ways (“Saudi

Arabia's religious police 'contains extremists,”

2014).
 Human Rights affect on Women in
Saudi Arabia
Restricted rights; not equal as men

Women are not able to be independent

not allowed to travel without the consent of a male

member in the family, or go to school,

not allowed to drive (unable to get licenses to

drive); women protest by driving (Chasmar, 2013).
Mazza (2015) states that a Saudi Arabian named
Saleh al-Saadoon stated that countries who allow
women to drive do not care if they will get raped,
but the Sharia law protects them from that.

no political rights like voting

dress code: abaya

not allowed to socialize with men especially in

public
Saudi Women and Driving

https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=RiJ1fQ1-KO4

Saudi women and their children

being arrested for protesting
Forms of Crimes and Cruel Punishment
Murder results in execution (Hubbard,
2015).
women driving: lashes, imprisoned.
theft, sex before marriage, and drinking
alcohol result in the removal of body
parts (Hubbard, 2015).
Not all of the crimes in Saudi Arabia are
covered.
Examples: carjacking and harassment.
This gives autonomy to their judges to
take the punishment for the crimes
committed into their own hands, instead
of basing off of the Sharia Law
(Hubbard, 2015).
 Women in Saudi Arabia

Manal Al Sharif was arrested

for women driving campaign
“Woman Is Publicly Beheaded in Saudi
Arabia's Tenth Execution of 2015"

Salem (2015) announced that a

Saudi woman named Lalia Bint
Abdul Muttablib Basim was
publicly executed for being
accused of sexually abusing and
murdering her step daughter.

recent case in January

Lady claimed she was innocent

Execution Video of Laila Bint Abdul
Muttablib Basim

https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=jZLwz41y4lQ
 Promoting Awareness: global coalition to fight
against the women’s rights in Saudi Arabia

Current conflict with Sweden and Saudi Arabia;

jeopardizing its relationship due to "interference in
its internal affairs” (Taylor, March 20).

Taylor (March 20) also mentions that the Saudis

will block out business visas to Swedish citizens in
a form of punishment

major economic loss for Sweden

Chasmar (2013) announced that other nations such

as Turkey, France, Pakistan, and other nations have Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom in
tried to promote awareness and help for an interview: foreign affairs
strengthening women’s rights in Saudi Arabia
 QUESTION:

Would you compare Saudi

Arabia harsh treatments and
punishments with the ISIS
(Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria) terrorist group?
 References
Chasmar, Jessica. (2013, October 24). U.N. praises Saudi Arabia on women’s rights. The Washington Times.
Retrieved from http://www.washingtontimes.com/
Elliott, Justin. (2011, February 26). What sharia law actually means. Salon. Retrieved from
http://www.salon.com/
Hubbard, Ben. (2015, March 22). Saudi Justice, harsh but able to spare the sword. The Washington Post.
Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Man who filmed beheading of Saudi woman reportedly arrested. (2015, March 19). Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/
Mazza, Ed. (2015, February 10). Saudi historian says U.S. women drive because they don’t care if they’re raped.
The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffintonpost.com/
Mullen, Jethro. (2015, February 4) Who is Saudi Arabia’s new king Salman? CNN. Retrieved from
http://www.cnn.com/
Salem, Harriet. January 15, 2015. Woman is publicly beheaded in Saudi Arabia's tenth execution of 2015. Vice
News. Retrieved from http://news.vice.com/
Saudi Arabia's religious police 'contains extremists’. (2014, February 4). BBC. Retrieved from
http://www.bbc.com/
Saudi Arabian women protest driving ban: Saudi police reportedly arrest 12 women for driving protest. (2013,
October 28). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/
Taylor, Adam. (January 21). How Saudi Arabia’s harsh legal punishments compare to the Islamic State’s. The
Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Taylor, Adam. (9 February). The facts - and a few myths - about Saudi Arabia and human rights. The
Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Taylor, Adam. (March 20). Sweden stood up for human rights in Saudi Arabia. This is how Saudi Arabia is
punishing Sweden. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://washingtonpost.com/
 References
MacFARQUHAR, Neil.
(2011, May 23). The New
York Times. Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/