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| Saudis chided on 'rights abuses' | Saudis chided on 'rights abuses' |
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| Amnesty International has strongly criticised Saudi Arabia over abuses allegedly committed under its counter-terrorism programme. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| AMNESTY REPORT ALLEGATIONS Thousands of people detained arbitrarilySome of those held are prisoners of conscienceAbuses include beatings, suspension from ceiling, electric shocks | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "We're calling", she said, "for a fundamental change of policy by the Saudi authorities." |