Update: On 13 October 2015 UK government cancels its controversial bid to supply prison services to Saudi Arabia 

Update: GCHR’s legal challenge against the UK Ministry of Justice’s bid to sell prison services to Saudi Arabia and Oman passed a hurdle in mid-September when the High Court ruled that the case raises “a significant issue of general public importance.” Thus, the court granted a cap of £10,000 on the amount of the government’s legal fees that GCHR would have to pay if we lost the case. However, that is still much higher than expected so please support our crowdfunding campaign by donating HERE and by spreading the word: #stopfloggingjustice.

On 9 September 2015, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Justice announced that Just Solutions International (JSi) – the “commercial arm” of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) – will not pursue any new projects, but it will continue to pursue existing projects including the proposal to work with the Saudi prison and probation service.   

As previously reported, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) is challenging the legality of JSi, which has submitted bids to providing prison and probation services in various countries with appalling human rights records, including Saudi Arabia and Oman. 

GCHR’s grounds for bringing the case are here [https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/1037].  The government served its defence on 29 July 2015.  In that defence the government said – for the first time – that it was reviewing the underlying issues.   

Melanie Gingell, GCHR Advisory Board member, said: “We welcome the government’s announcement, but we are concerned that the Saudi bid continues, and we are concerned at what has been left unsaid; will other existing projects such as the work in Oman also continue?”

Adam Hundt, GCHR’s solicitor, added: “The case continues because it is important for the legality of the government’s actions in relation to Saudia Arabia and Oman – and other similar projects the government may decide to pursue – to be determined.”

The Court’s decision as to whether to grant permission is expected within the next few weeks. In the meantime, please help GCHR reach its fundraising target to enable it to continue the case: http://www.gofundme.com/saudiprisons  

GCHR is represented by Deighton Pierce Glynn Solicitors.