Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Ambassador to the UK, affirmed the Kingdom's condemnation of torture in all its forms and methods and its commitment to the human right to freedom of expression in accordance with the law and judiciary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This was in response to a report published in the British newspaper "The Guardian" entitled "UN report condemns Saudi practice of torture despite the reforms." The Kingdom has condemned torture in all its forms and methods and its commitment to the human right to freedom of expression in accordance with the law and judiciary of the country," the ambassador said. As a result, the Kingdom has enacted the most stringent legislation to combat terrorism and abide by the provisions of internationally-recognized human rights conventions. " Prince Mohammed said, "No one in Saudi Arabia is prosecuted or imprisoned unless he is found guilty and his sentence reflects the gravity of the crime," he said, adding that "the Kingdom's public prosecution is keen to monitor and examine all prisons and centers detention in order to ensure the rights of those arrested in accordance with international law. "We are committed to the law in all criminal proceedings so as to ensure the physical and mental integrity of all prisoners, treat detainees with integrity and dignity and explain to them the reason for their arrest, and provide them with the right to contact their families." The Saudi Human Rights Committee is present in police stations and prisons to monitor the treatment of prisoners. Any complaint, will be forwarded to the highest level of authority in the Kingdom: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the ambassador said. The Saudi ambassador to the UK explained that the Supreme Court Council appoints judges of the criminal court. All detainees shall be guaranteed impartial trials, the hiring of lawyers to defend them in accordance with the requirements of law and its standards. The Government provides legal assistance to those in need in the courts and is available to the public, as well as experts, journalists and relatives will have the right to attend and follow-up the proceedings, he added. In the Kingdom, courts of appeal have the functions of examining and reviewing the judgments of the lower courts before they are being endorsed by the highest authority. " Saudi Arabia is keen to cooperate fully with Ben Emmerson, the United Nations Special Envoy, and at the same time finds it imperative to reject the allegations that he was denied access to prisons or specific prisoners. In fact, the officials in charge have facilitated his mission to get acquainted to most cases upon his request, unless the authorities were not notified in due course or that the prisoners concerned have not been tried for terrorism-related offenses, thus being outside the specific framework of Mr. Ben Emmerson mission, or they have already been released, the ambassador concluded.
