Amid the unrest in the Middle East where people call on their governments to respect their dignity and demand for their rights, every Saudi citizen should thank Almighty Allah for the blessing of living in a country which upholds the dignity of its citizens as well as migrant residents in high esteem. It is the blessing of having a country which ensures that the full rights of individuals are respected and honored. It is the blessing of living in a country which has mobilized its capabilities to the full to provide its citizens a free and dignified life. Proofs of this are countless and the latest is the Ministry of Interior's directive sent to the Emirs of all regions as well as government authorities. In the directive, the interior ministry said it is important for officials to keep in line with Shariah and the regulations that guarantee the individual's civil rights and not to take any action that might infringe on these rights. It reminded all emirates of the Kingdom's different regions to perform their duties in accordance with the laws and regulations. “If authorities concerned find someone in violation of the Shariah and the laws, they should deal with this person properly and avoid attracting undue attention,” it said. “They should make him write an undertaking that he would not commit the violation again. If necessary, the case should be reported to the emir of the region, who will guide authorities on the action that should be taken.” This directive manifests the Kingdom's dedication and keenness to make the rights and freedom of every citizen — granted by Islam and safeguarded by law — the top priority. These rights and freedom will be protected as long as they are in keeping with Shari'ah and do not stray from the right path or go against accepted norms. Saudis should be proud of this country, which makes every one's freedom its top priority, and work toward achieving it. While the interior ministry sent its directive to the Emirs of all regions as well as government officials, the citizens should also do their part to respect the laws and other regulations. The pursuit for peace and happiness is the concern both of the governmet and the citizenry. __
