On Monday 15/4/1437 AH corresponding to 25/1/2016, a British delegation visits the National Society for Human Rights. The delegation includes: the Minister for Middle East Affairs at the British Foreign Ministry, Mr. Tobias Ellwood, accompanied by His Excellency the British Ambassador to the Kingdom Mr. Simon Collis, Ms. Julie Scott, director of Gulf Management at the British Foreign Ministry, Mr. Grant Calder, the British Foreign Minister’s private secretary, and Ms. Nicola Woodget, the British ambassador’s Advisor. They were received by His Excellency the Chairman of the Society, Dr. Mufleh Rabiean Al-Qahtani, HE the Secretary General of the Society adviser Khalid Abdulrahman Al- Fakhri and the Secretary of the Chairman of the Society, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Mahmoud. At the beginning of the meeting, HE the Chairman of the Society has given them a brief explanation regarding the Society’s activities, its contribution in spreading the human rights culture and its mechanism. Besides, they have shed light on the types of issues received by the Society and how the Society helps the Complainants as well as the remarkable progress in the human rights field in the Kingdom and the efforts exerted for its enhancement. Besides, the Minister has shed light on the human rights’ remarkable progress in Saudi Arabia which is shown through the women entrance to the Shoura Council and allowing her to participate in the municipal elections. They have also talked about some other human rights issues, including the death penalty and the attitude of the European countries from them as well as the attitude of some British and European parliamentarians from the recent human rights situation in Saudi Arabia. The Chairman of the Society has asserted that some individual cases are exploited by some and is circulated in order to discredit the reputation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and that there have been efforts exerted in issuing many laws and regulations in the Kingdom that supports human rights, including the Criminal Procedure Law amendments and its implementing regulations, the Protection from Abuse Law and the Child Protection Law.

The British minister has said that he has expressed his point of view in front of his parliament about the human rights situation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the significant progress in this field which many does not know about it.

In addition HE the Chairman of the Society has stressed the need to respect the States’ implementation of its domestic provisions and the  independence of its judiciary work. They have also talked about the development in the field of justice facility in the Kingdom, the training of judges and codify the provisions of Islamic jurisprudence, as well as the efforts exerted in this field that need more time.

The British ambassador to the Kingdom has stressed on the importance of exchanging views on human rights issues and creating partnerships between human rights organizations, and the Chairman of the Society referred to the importance of exchanging views as it would contribute to a better understanding of various human rights issues which are raised.

Moreover, the Chairman of the Society has also met Ms. Luisa Manrique ,Adviser of Political Affairs of the European Union, and discussed some human rights issues.