The judiciary is not independent. The chief justice of the supreme court, who presides over the judiciary, is government-appointed. Regular courts provide some due process safeguards, but special security and military courts are used to punish political opponents of the government. Criminal law is based on Sharia, and provides for punishments including flogging, amputation, crucifixion, and execution. Ten southern, predominantly non-Muslim states are exempt from parts of the criminal code.
Security forces act with impunity, and arbitrary arrest, detention, and torture are problems.
Prison conditions do not meet international standards. Women s Prison died of diseases inside the prison. The government has gradually eased press restrictions since 1997, but journalists practice self-censorship in order to avoid harassment, arrest, and closure of publications. All of these are subject to censorship. Other newspapers were suspended for harming the nation and the economy, while several journalists were arrested for alleged violations of national security.