Saudi Arabia’s legislation and regulations criminalize all forms of racial discrimination, said Dr. Said Al-Shawaf, member of the Human Rights Council and independent expert of the United Nations.
Al-Shawaf, who is the Saudi candidate for the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination of the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2020-2024, emphasized that the Kingdom’s basic system of governance ensured equality for all before the judiciary without discrimination.
On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which falls on March 21, Dr. Al-Shawaf stressed the keenness of the Human Rights Commission to promote and raise awareness on the human rights culture and to define the regulations, legislation and institutional guarantees that prohibit and criminalize practicing any form of racial discrimination, hatred and intolerance.
He also highlighted the most important laws, regulations and measures applied by Saudi Arabia to combat discrimination, promote a culture of tolerance and respect for human rights, and preserve national unity.
Al-Shawaf pointed out that the Kingdom criminalized the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority, hatred or incitement.
The regulations of Saudi Arabia prohibit the establishment of organizations and the holding of activities that promote racial intolerance, he affirmed.
The laws of associations and civil institutions include a ban on the establishment of an association if its basic regulations contain provisions that contradict the provisions of Islamic law, violate public order, public morals, or harm national unity, he added.
