A new report presents an detailed investigation into torture in Saudi Arabia, and documents worrying new trends in the practice since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came to power in 2017.

The report by ALQST for Human Rights in cooperation with the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR), finds that a lack of basic legal safeguards to prevent torture creates an environment conducive to the practice, while legislation like the Counter-Terrorism Law contains provisions that facilitate, if not actively encourage, torture, creating a climate of impunity.

"Torture in Saudi Arabia - Impunity Reigns" describes how torture is practised systematically in Saudi Arabia, both to extract confessions during interrogation and as a form of punishment in detention. Although detainees have reported telling courts that they have suffered torture, the authorities fail to investigate such allegations, and coerced confessions are routinely admitted as evidence in court. 

The new report elaborates on the structural causes that underlie the practice of torture, as well as the forces responsible for acts of torture and ill-treatment and the methods used. It analyses Saudi Arabia’s lack of compliance with the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) -- which the kingdom ratified in 1997 -- both through legal examination and recent case studies. The cases included in the report feature the stories of male and female human rights defenders as well as ordinary Saudi citizens and migrant workers.

The report concludes with a set of 21 recommendations that, if implemented, would bring Saudi Arabia into compliance with the UN Convention against Torture and help to eradicate the practice, prosecute the perpetrators, compensate the victims, and prevent future incidents of torture.