In 2005, in order to monitor human rights in Saudi Arabia, a royal decree established the creation of a Human Rights Commission. Presented as an independent body, its task was to hold the country’s government accountable. Twenty years after its creation, however, it can be said with certainty that this body does not serve the function for which it was originally intended. It has been demonstrated that, in many cases of human rights abuses and violations, the Commission has either failed to act or, if it has acted, has not done so independently.

The Commission, for example, would be tasked with collecting complaints about human rights violations, performing legislative functions, and monitoring the conditions of prisoners in detention centres. However, the families of many political prisoners have recounted how the Commission has not only failed to perform these functions, but has also blocked their attempts to raise issues. One example is that of Manahel al-Otaibi, a Saudi activist whose family has not heard from her for several months. When her family contacted the Commission, it showed a clear lack of interest, limiting itself to giving them false reassurances about Manahel’s condition. However, from the information that her family has managed to gather, it appears that she is being held in a detention centre in horrible conditions.

Between January and 20 October of this year alone, 300 executions have been carried out, many of which targeted foreigners and members of the Shia community. Let us not forget the recent execution of Jalal al-Abbad and Abdullah al-derazi that were brutally executed for a crime  committed when they were still minors. Despite all this, however, the SHRC continues to remain silent, a clear sign that its work is not independent but follows specific directives.

Another worrying aspect is that, despite the lack of transparency of this body, the SHRC continues to benefit from partnerships with the United Nations, the European Union and other foreign countries. In fact, the SHRC has signed memoranda with these bodies and organised joint training sessions, which have further increased its visibility. However, this only serves to divert attention from the fact that this body does not operate independently and that its actions merely whitewash the abuses that the Saudi government continues to commit.

Twenty years after its creation, the Saudi Human Rights Commission has not brought about any truly significant reforms within the country. In fact, Saudi Arabia’s human rights record continues to be very poor, and with each passing day, concerns grow for all those who are committed to defending human rights and who oppose the Saudi government. It is therefore obvious how the latter has managed to instrumentalise such an important body, stripping it of its necessary independence and turning it into a tool for continuing its campaigns of repression.

It is also necessary that all those bodies that work with this Commission and finance it begin to distance themselves from it and exert pressure to remove any external pressure from it. Only in this way will Saudi Arabia have a commission that truly protects human rights, listens to the demands of victims and effectively holds the government accountable for its actions. Until this happens, unfortunately, the Saudi government will continue its repression and its crimes will be whitewashed by the very body that should be opposing them.

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