October 1997 Vol. 9, No. 9 (E)
SAUDI ARABIA
SUMMARY 3
THE SPECIAL VULNERABILITY OF FOREIGN WORKERS 4
THE ORIGINS OF THE "WITCHCRAFT" CHARGE 6
The Legal Basis for the Charge 6
The Background to the Charge 8
ARREST AND DETENTION 9
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 12
SENTENCING AND EXECUTION 14
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS 15
RECOMMENDATIONS 18
APPENDICES 20
This report was researched and written by Clarisa Bencomo, research associate at Human Rights Watch/Middle East. The report was edited by Eric Goldstein, research director of Human Rights Watch/Middle East, and Joe Stork, advocacy director of Human Right Watch/Middle East. Awali Samara, associate at Human Rights Watch/Middle East, prepared the report for publication. The author gratefully acknowledges information and assistance received from the al-Naqshabandi family and from several prominent lawyers and experts in Islamic law who cannot be named here.