Saudi Arabia HR Record 'shocking and Dire' :Amenesty

Amnesty International has strongly criticised Saudi Arabia over abuses allegedly committed under its counter-terrorism programme.

In a new report the human rights group says that since 2001 thousands of Saudis have been detained for years without charge or trial.

The group's 69-page report describes Saudi Arabia's human rights record as "shocking" and "dire".

It says the international community has been far too quiet about the abuse.

In the report, entitled "Saudi Arabia: assaulting human rights in the name of counter-terrorism", the organisation accuses the Gulf state of massive and widespread abuse.

The Saudi authorities have been widely credited with defeating al-Qaeda in their country and Amnesty International concedes that most of the thousands detained without trial are suspected of links to groups that have attacked westerners and others.

But it says their cases are shrouded in secrecy and, quoting numerous examples, it doubts that even basic human rights standards are being met.

The director of Amnesty's UK office, Kate Allen, said that except for the re-education programme for ex-jihadists, and the carefully co-ordinated mass trials, Saudi Arabia's habitual cloak of secrecy is wrapped even more tightly than ever in "security" cases.

"We're calling", she said, "for a fundamental change of policy by the Saudi authorities."