By Andrew L. Jaffee

“Our friends,” the Saudis… Human Rights Watch (HRW) has just reported on a “four-week fact finding mission [to Saudi Arabia] in December [which] focused on a range of human rights concerns, including unfair trials, children’s detention, restrictions on women’s legal identity, and abuses against foreign domestic workers.” The “good news,” if one can call it that, was that the House of Saud (royal family) actually invited HRW and, “arranged access [for HRW] to a wide range of high-level officials, while several ministers expressed their desire to invite HRW back to the kingdom to discuss the findings in detail.” The strange news: Why would the Saudis invite HRW to investigate abuses? Is the kingdom truly opening up? Is there a political split opening in the family? Is Iran’s pursuit of nukes causing Saudis to look West for allies?

Whatever the case, the royal family has allowed local elections over the past few years, and has even made diplomatic overtures towards Israel and to American Jewish groups. The bad news: Saudi human rights abuses continue unabated — like the executions of children. Here are the details:

“The Saudi government’s invitation to Human Rights Watch reflects a newfound openness toward discussing domestic human rights issues,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “By restricting our access to prisons and withholding general permission to observe trials, however, the Saudi government gave the appearance that it still has much to hide.”

Saudi secret police hold thousands of political prisoners for years without charge or trial, the report alleged. They include some suspected of ties to the Iraqi insurgency.

It said prisoners at al-Ha’ir prison south of Riyadh reported physical abuse and said they remained locked up long after their sentences expired.

The rights group also said children are jailed for minor offenses, including vague “morals” charges, and face beatings and solitary confinement. Children as young as 13 have been sentenced to death, though the report did not say what they had been sentenced for.

The report also found Saudi courts offer criminal defendants few opportunities to defend themselves and said many are found guilty with little supporting evidence. Trials remain closed despite laws declaring they are open to the public, and judges commonly pronounce guilty verdicts based on little evidence, it said.