Actions that threaten Saudi Arabia\u2019s unity, disturb public order, or defame the reputation of the state or the king \u2013 will be considered acts of terrorism under a new counterterrorism law which has come into force in the gulf kingdom.<\/p>\n
The new legislature was ratified by King Abdullah on Sunday after being approved by the Cabinet in December, following the initial proposal by the Interior Ministry and advisory Shura Council.<\/p>\n
It defines terrorism as \u201cany act carried out by an offender \u2026 intended to disturb the public order\u2026to shake the security of society\u2026 stability of the state\u2026 expose its national unity to danger\u2026 suspend the basic law of governance or some of its articles,\u201d<\/i> according to its text as cited by Human Rights Watch (HRW).<\/p>\n
Terrorists can also be considered those individuals who \u201cinsult the reputation of the state or its position\u2026 inflict damage upon one of its public utilities or its natural resources,\u201d or those who attempt to force \u201cgovernmental authority to carry out or prevent it from carrying out an action, or to threaten to carry out acts that lead to the named purposes or incite [these acts].\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
The legislation, made up of 40 clauses, allows the security forces to arrest and detain suspects for up to six months with the possibility to extend the confinement for another six months. Suspects are allowed to be held incommunicado for 90 days without the presence of their lawyer during the initial questioning.<\/p>\n
Internet surveillance and phone tracking are also allowed under the new legislature, as well as the right for the security services to raid the homes of suspected terrorists, without prior approval from a judge. People suspected of financing terrorist activities could also be prosecuted.<\/p>\n
The interior minister, rather than any judge, is empowered to suspend sentences or drop charges and release a person on trial.<\/p>\n
When the legislature was approved in December, HRW lashed out against the Kingdom\u2019s strive to limit freedom of speech and criticized the monarchy over its very vague definition of terrorism.<\/p>\n
\u201cVague and overbroad legal provisions cannot be the basis for overriding a broad array of fundamental rights,\u201d<\/i> HRW said in a statement in December. \u201cSaudi Arabia\u2019s denial of the rights to participate in public affairs, and freedom of religion, peaceful assembly, association, and expression, as well as its systematic discrimination against women greatly exceed any notion of justifiable restrictions.\u201d
\n<\/i>
\nActivists are worried that the law will first of all be applied to silence the liberal opposition in the country. Saudi activist Abdulaziz Al Shubaily from the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights (HASEM) described the law as a \u201ccatastrophe\u201d.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cIf I call for the release of someone from jail for being held longer than their sentence, I can be tried for \u201casking the state to take action,\u201d Shubaily said. \u201cWhen I call for a constitutional monarchy, I can now be charged with terrorism.\u201d
\n<\/i>
\n\u201cThey characterize you as a terrorist because you ask the kingdom to do something it does not want to do,\u201d<\/i> he added.<\/p>\n
HRW researcher Adam Coogle said, that the new law is \u201cdraconian in spirit and letter, and there is every reason to fear that the authorities will easily and eagerly use it against peaceful dissidents.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Saudi women who are seen driving can now be accused of disturbing public order for defying a driving ban imposed on females and face punishment under a new law. In October last year, several images emerged online of women getting in cars and going around the city as part of a unified protest.<\/p>\n