Article 26 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance

This Article establishes an obligation on the State to protect human rights, and it has two elements:

• The obligation: the State protects human rights.
• The framework: this protection is in accordance with Islamic Sharia.

The text uses the word "human being" and does not limit it to the citizen, unlike some Articles that mention the citizen specifically, such as Article 27, which deals with the right of the citizen and his family in cases of emergency, illness, disability and old age.

The Article does not list the human rights that it protects, and it does not state the bodies that provide the protection or the means or procedures available to a person who believes a right of his has been violated. It establishes the general principle and ties it to Islamic Sharia, which, according to the text, defines the content and scope of these rights.

This Article appears in Chapter Five, on rights and duties, and is linked to Article 25, which provides that the State is keen to realize the hopes of the Arab and Islamic nation for solidarity and unity of word and to strengthen its relations with friendly states, and to Article 27, which provides that the State guarantees the right of the citizen and his family in cases of emergency, illness, disability and old age, supports the social security system, and encourages institutions and individuals to contribute to charitable works.

Anyone with a specific matter in which they believe one of their rights has been infringed can consult a lawyer to learn the laws and procedures that apply to their situation.