Saudi promises

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Under the auspices of the United Nations and the Washington-based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, representatives from 14 Muslim countries gathered in Istanbul on April 12-14 to discuss implementing democratic reforms in the Middle East.

While it came as no shock that Syria and Iran boycotted the event, Saudi Arabia -- cited often by the Bush administration as one of America's closest allies in the region and serious about reform -- was conspicuous by its absence.

But given that one of the main themes of the conference was "the compatibility of Islam and the principles of democracy," it's no wonder the Saudis decided to take a pass.

The latest example of the royal kingdom's continued repression of democratic voices occurred on March 16, when 12 Saudi reformers were arrested and charged with "undermining national unity and principles of the Islamic-based fabric of society."

To date, three of the reformers -- former university professors Abdullah Al Hamed and Metrouk Alfaleh and poet Ali Dumaini -- remain in prison, while the others have been released under conditions that they cannot leave Saudi Arabia or talk to the media. They were also required to sign a letter of retraction vowing to cease from campaigning for reform.

Among the 12 reformers' "offenses" was their signing of a petition asking the House of Saud to adopt a constitutional monarchy featuring women's rights, religious freedom and freedom of the press. They also requested the implementation of local elections promised in October by the Saudi government (which, not surprisingly, have yet to be scheduled).

But of all the charges levied against the 12, the most scurrilous may have been the accusation that they planned to establish a human- rights committee independent of the Saudi government. Especially when, according to the Saudi ambassador to the United States, PrinceBandarbin-Sultan, "[Human rights organizations] are the foundation for successful and lasting reforms."

Indeed, just last month, the Saudi government announced the formation of Saudi Arabia's first-ever human-rights organization, the National Human Rights Association (NHRA). The group, which consists of 41 members, will supposedly "implement international human rights charters signed by Saudi Arabia" and include a special panel to monitor violations of women's rights.

Of course, the NHRA -- like every state-run program in Saudi Arabia -- will also be based on the totalitarian principles of Islamic Sharia law.

"The people who are involved [with NHRA] are puppets of the Saudi government," says Ali Al-Ahmed, director of the Saudi Institute in Washington. "Why have only one human rights organization? Why aren't there many throughout Saudi Arabia? Each region and city should have their own."