There are no political parties, no elections, no independent legislature, no trades unions, no bar association, no independent judiciary, and no independent human rights organisations. Anyone living in Saudi Arabia who criticises the system is harshly punished. After arrest, political and religious opponents of the government are detained indefinitely without trial or are imprisoned after grossly unfair trials. Torture is endemic.
Foreign workers are always at risk.
Amnesty called on Saudi Arabia to ratify international treaties, to ensure fair trial, to prevent torture and ill treatment, and to end discrimination against women, religious minorities and migrant workers. While private non-Muslim religious practices appear to be permitted, public worship is not. Up to 30 Christian migrant workers were arrested in Riyadh purely for their religious beliefs, after a copy of the Bible was found outside a house. One Philippine national was interrogated in hospital shortly after giving birth. She was kept under house arrest until her husband returned from the Philippines to be questioned about his religious activities.