Saudi Arabia: Rights syllabus for students ready

By Diana Al-Jassem

JEDDAH – A human rights syllabus in the Kingdom’s universities would be a major weapon in the fight against terrorism, violence, and ignorance, said the National Human Rights Society (NHRS).

The syllabus, which has been submitted to the Ministry of Higher Education for approval, is the result of two years of research by the Association, taking into consideration studies of human rights by Arab, European, and American universities as well the societal, economic, and political problems particular to Saudi Arabia.
Suhaila Zain Al-Abedin, a member of the NHRS Executive Council and Consultative Committee, who was instrumental in drawing up the new syllabus, said, “Our aim is to inform students of their rights.”

“Studying about the human rights of others will help the younger generation to learn about their own legal rights and will benefit society by producing educated graduates who can represent the Kingdom internationally,” Al-Abedin said.
Once approved, the new human rights syllabus will be gradually introduced into the university curriculum. “Students will study human rights as a general subject in the first year of university,” said Al-Abedin, adding that at later stages topics, such as, moderation in Islam, women’s rights, and the rights of children would be dealt with.

“These days we suffer from a lack of privacy especially as a result of globalization and the proliferation of the internet throughout the Kingdom,” added Zain Al-Abedin. “The new syllabus will teach students how to protect their privacy without violating any of the tenets of Islam,” she said.

The Human Rights Association plans to organize periodic meetings between students and members of the Committee for National Dialogue.
“Meetings of students with members of the Human Rights Association and Committee for National Dialogue are instrumental in teaching students the importance of discussion,” said Zain Al-Abedin.

“Having attained an important position in international affairs, the Kingdom requires highly educated graduates who can insure that international agreements are not in conflict with the principles of Islam,” she said.

She also said that teaching human rights in Saudi universities and colleges would help to decrease the threat of terrorism in the Kingdom. “Teaching the new syllabus will make students aware of the rights of prisoners of war in places, such as, Iraq and Lebanon, and will deter many young people from involving themselves in terrorist activities,” added Zain AL-Abedin.

On the other hand, some educators do not see the importance of a specialized syllabus for teaching human rights in the nation’s universities. “Here, in the Kingdom, in primary, intermediate and secondary school, we teach students how to love and defend their country in a subject called ‘National Education’,” said Salem Aal Minah Al-Qahtani, a former Dean of King Khalid University and a member of the Shoura Council.

According to Al-Qahtani, such specialized subjects need to be taught only to students of law and international affairs, and introducing it in great detail throughout the university would not benefit students in other fields. “I think an introduction of human rights at the university level may be required but not in the way that Zain Al-Abedin has advised,” added Qahtani.

---Saudi Gazette