TheCable

A UN human rights watchdog On Friday called on Saudi Arabia to end “severe” discrimination against girls and to repeal laws that allowed stoning, amputation, flogging and execution of children.

Bandar Bin Mohammed, chairman of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, said the committee on the rights of the child, condemned the Saudi-led coalition’s air strikes in Yemen.

It said air strikes killed and maimed hundreds of children, and its “use of starvation” as a tactic in that war against Iran-backed Houthis.

The committee’s 18 independent experts examined the kingdom’s record of compliance with a UN treaty protecting the rights of people under the age of 18.

The Saudi delegation to the committee’s review, told the body that Sharia, Islamic law, was above all laws and treaties.

The UN experts voiced deep concern that Riyadh “still does not recognise girls as full subjects of rights”.

That it has continued to severely discriminate (against) them in law, practice and to impose on them a system of male guardianship.

“Traditional, religious or cultural attitudes should not be used to justify violations of their right to equality,” the organisation said.

“Children of Shi’ite Muslim families and other religious minorities are persistently discriminated against in their access to schools and justice in the Sunni-ruled kingdom.

“Children of over 15 years are tried as adults and can be executed, after trials falling short of guarantees of due process and a fair trial.”