Call for a national conference of human rights workers: Al-Mugaiteeb

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“It is time for all activists and human rights workers to meet and discuss human rights issues,” said Ibrahim Al-Mugaiteeb, founder of the Human Rights First Society.

 


He said there are groups and individuals who work hard for the cause of human rights.
“It is time for all of them to meet, know each other, interact, and, in the process, come out with common stands,” said Mugaiteeb.

 


“The human rights movement in the Kingdom is still immature,” he told the Saudi Gazette.
“We are still waiting for the new regulation from the Shoura Council. The conference would be a nice venue to hasten the release of the regulation.”

 


He said the conference would give the opportunity for small groups, independent women groups, and individuals to voice their opinions and help in human rights efforts.

 


“No one in the country has an accurate list of all human rights activists,” he added.
“The conference would be the initial step in having a roster of all who are interested in human rights, and therefore all must be invited to attend the conference.”

 


“Everyone with the noble aim towards human rights can come. It is not political activism; it is activism for a human cause,” he said.

 


Mugaiteeb, who claims to have membership of around 70 individuals, said such a conference could become an annual affair.

 


This call for a national meeting and dialogue of human rights workers comes after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has called for an Inter-Faith Dialogue.

 


“(That’s) a signal that the Kingdom is witnessing an era of openness,” according to Al-Mugaiteeb. “Our King is for dialogue and meeting. This conference will manifest the willingness of the government and the Saudi people to come together for the cause of human rights.”

 


Turki Al-Sudairi, President of the Human Rights Commission, a government agency, is also in favor of such a conference, according to Mugaiteeb.

 


Dr Saleh Al Khatlan, in charge of the Monitoring and Followup Committee of the National Society of Human Rights (NHSR), has also welcomed the call for the conference.

 


He told the Saudi Gazette that the conference “would serve as an opportunity to review suggestions, legislations and help in lauding and encouraging active human rights groups and individuals.”
Khatlan suggested that the conference be convened through the Human Rights Commission.

 


“We, Saudi human rights activists, need the recognition of the government in our quest to push the cause of human rights in Saudi Arabia; a national conference could be the initial step,” Mugaiteeb said.

 

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