Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani

Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani reassured a fair trial to all those accused of crimes, including terrorism and those who are accused of being involved in destabilizing state security.

He said, all their rights are guaranteed by Shariah regardless of their ethnic and faith affiliation.

Speaking to the local media here, the minister said the charges against them (terrorists) are being handled by the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) under independent judges.

No authority can influence them except Islamic law, the minister said, stressing that the accused is entitled to legal assistance to fight his case.

The minister was responding to reports in the foreign media questioning certain provisions in the Saudi judicial system with reference to human rights.

“The independence of the judiciary in the Kingdom is a constitutional principle. It is the right of a sovereign which does not accept any attempt to influence it,” the minister said, adding that it is independent and seeks to protect human rights and provides guarantees to litigants in the interests of the individual and society.

He said legal provisions do not look at the ethnic or intellectual affiliations of parties or sectarian conflict. They are dealt with in a fair and even-handed manner.

The minister said the Kingdom has an independent and impartial judiciary which builds its provisions on objective criteria and is governed by the rules of Islamic law. It does not differentiate between litigants on the basis of race, religion or any particular affiliation.

“We need more legal experts in various fields,” the minister said, referring to the formation of working groups to prepare detailed studies to complete a specialized court system, and accelerate the transfer of the commercial judiciary and the departments of the Criminal Board of Grievances, in addition to the labor courts.

He said the ministry uses the latest techniques and processes using the power of technology in this area while it continues to train and rehabilitate people by empowering them with various skills and knowledge within the framework of the judicial system.

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