Government | Sunday 1 March, 2015 9:16 am |

Saudi Arabia’s justice system is based on the provisions of Islamic law derived from the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
This ensures the independence of the judiciary in Saudi Arabia and its impartiality, said Justice Minister Waleed Al-Samaani, at the recent Global Law Summit in London.
Al-Samaani, who is also the acting chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, attended the summit along with Saudi Ambassador Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf.
The three-day event brought together legal practitioners, business leaders, public sector decision-makers and government officials from around the world to develop relations across markets and jurisdictions.
It was launched by MP and Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling, and was a unique one-off high level business forum supported by the legal profession, business and government.
Al-Samaani said that Saudi law guarantees the rights of all individuals. Saudi Arabia is among the first countries to call for the declaration of human rights at all international conventions.
“Saudi Arabia’s system ensures all the judicial guarantees, which are consistent with international norms and standards in force in the course of litigation,” he said.
Referring to the constant streamlining of the judicial system in the Kingdom, he said that their system is evolving continuously in terms of procedural aspects and administrative regulations to expedite dispensation of justice and tone up the administrative machinery.


Noting that Saudi Arabia also makes use of its international experience by participating in such conferences, Al-Samaani said it also allows them to take advantage of the best practices abroad so long as they do not conflict with the principles of Islamic law.
“Every person should benefit from wisdom wherever it is available, so long as it does not conflict with his belief,” he noted.
Ministers of justice from GCC countries were among those present at the London event that dealt with important issues during the three-day session that also dwelt on the rule of law and ways of safeguarding the independence of the judiciary.