Saudi Arabia 'holding 3,100 prisoners in secret'

Saudi Arabia is holding more than 3,100 people in secret detention and has used torture to extract confessions, Amnesty International says today.

A report accuses the international community of turning a blind eye to the kingdom's "war on terror" begun after the 9/11 attacks.

"These unjust measures have made an already dire human rights situation worse," said Malcolm Smart, head of Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa programme.

Amnesty says prisoners have been held for years and others have been killed in uncertain circumstances.

Their report says the Saudis carried out "secret and summary trials". Torture methods included "severe beatings with sticks, punching, and suspension from the ceiling, use of electric shocks and sleep deprivation". Saudi Arabia carried out a wave of arrests against suspected al Qaeda members after the group carried out attacks against expatriate residential compounds.

Asked about the report, Saudi interior ministry official Abdulrahman Alhadlaq said: "These are claims that have to be proven. Our policies on human rights are very clear and the orders given are for prisoners to be treated with respect and according to international human rights principles."

Amnesty says the international community has failed to apply pressure on Saudi Arabia for fear of angering a key ally that is the world's largest exporter of oil. The US and other countries pushed Saudi Arabia to crack down on terrorism because 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers came from the kingdom.