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Torture casts a shadow over the G20

Legner, Julia
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/torture-casts-shadow-g20-200710080303559.html

Publisher:  Al Jazeera
Date Written:  12/07/2020
Year Published:  2020  
Resource Type:  Article

This year, Saudi Arabia is holding the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 (G20), the world's largest economies. The kingdom will use its presidency as a PR opportunity to expand its economic influence and attract foreign investment. However, Legner argues that the proven practice of systemic torture and human rights abuses should disqualify Saudi Arabia from holding the presidency of the G20.

Abstract: 
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Extract:

Although Saudi Arabia ratified the UN convention against torture in 1997, domestic legislation has not been brought in line with international standards and fails to offer sufficient legal safeguards. The frequent denial of access to legal counsel, family visits and adequate medical care create a conducive environment and increase the likelihood of torture.

The revised counter-terrorism law of 2017 further opened the door to prolonged and even unlimited periods of incommunicado detention, in which individuals are denied access to family members, an attorney, or an independent physician. This facilitates the practice of torture and ill-treatment, and renders individuals accused under the Counter-terrorism Law extremely vulnerable to torture.

While mechanisms to raise torture allegations formally exist, they serve more as window-dressing than as an actual means of recourse for victims. Torture allegations fail to be investigated, and perpetrators need have no fear of consequences, unlike those who raise such allegations, as the case of human rights defender Khaled Al Omair shows.

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