Saudi Public Prosecution to Asharq Al-Awsat: No Detainee was Subjected to Torture

Shalaan bin Rajeh bin Shalaan, Saudi Deputy Public Prosecutor (SPA)
Shalaan bin Rajeh bin Shalaan, Saudi Deputy Public Prosecutor (SPA)
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Saudi Public Prosecution to Asharq Al-Awsat: No Detainee was Subjected to Torture

Shalaan bin Rajeh bin Shalaan, Saudi Deputy Public Prosecutor (SPA)
Shalaan bin Rajeh bin Shalaan, Saudi Deputy Public Prosecutor (SPA)

The Saudi Public Prosecution announced on Friday that it had completed investigations into organized activities aimed at undermining the Kingdom’s security, stability, and national unity in 2018.
 
In a statement, the Public Prosecution “announced that it has concluded its probe and prepared the indictment list against the defendants in this case, and will refer the case to the relevant court.”

“The Public Prosecutor would like to affirm that all detainees in this case enjoy all rights preserved by the laws in the Kingdom.”
 
On June 2, following investigations with 17 persons, the Public Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of nine defendants - five men and four women - after sufficient evidence and recognition of their alleged links with hostile organizations. It also announced the provisional release of eight persons (five women and three men) pending completion of the investigations.
 
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Shalaan bin Rajeh bin Shalaan, deputy Public Prosecutor, said that all detainees were treated in a good manner according to the laws, categorically denying that any of them, whether women or men, were tortured.
 
He stressed that the Public Prosecution, the Human Rights Commission and the National Society for Human Rights, have looked into media reports about one of the detainees, and found that all allegations of mistreatment were false.
 
“The concerned detainee and all other detainees enjoy all their rights, including communication and visits,” he affirmed.
 
Shalaan noted that charges against the detainees included “communication and cooperation with individuals and organizations hostile to the Kingdom and recruiting people in a sensitive government entity to obtain information and official documents.”



UAE, Ukraine Presidents Explore Ways to Boost Bilateral Cooperation 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcomed upon his arrival in the UAE. (AFP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcomed upon his arrival in the UAE. (AFP)
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UAE, Ukraine Presidents Explore Ways to Boost Bilateral Cooperation 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcomed upon his arrival in the UAE. (AFP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcomed upon his arrival in the UAE. (AFP)

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received in Abu Dhabi on Monday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for talks on bilateral relations. 

He hoped Zelenskyy’s visit would further boost bilateral relations across various sectors, reported the UAE’s state news agency (WAM). 

The leaders discussed various aspects of cooperation, particularly in the fields of the economy, investment, development, renewable energy, and food security, as well as other areas aligned with both countries’ developmental priorities. 

Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to fostering effective international partnerships across different sectors to achieve shared progress and prosperity. 

He underlined the UAE’s consistent approach of supporting peaceful solutions to crises, underscoring that development can only be achieved in a stable environment. He reiterated the UAE’s commitment to backing all efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict and continuing initiatives to mitigate its humanitarian impact.  

He thanked Zelenskyy for the Ukrainian government’s cooperation in supporting the UAE’s mediation efforts in the exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia. He noted that this collaboration reflects confidence in the UAE’s role in alleviating the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. 

For his part, Zelenskyy reaffirmed his commitment to bolstering cooperation between Ukraine and the UAE, highlighting the numerous opportunities available across various sectors. He expressed his appreciation to Sheikh Mohamed for the UAE’s sustained diplomatic efforts in facilitating prisoner exchanges and its humanitarian focus on the crisis. 

Zelenskyy traveled to the United Arab Emirates late Sunday as momentum grows for potential peace talks ending Moscow's war on the country.