imprisonment and four months had passed by that time. I thought there is no harm in signing it now as only a little time of my sentence was left.15 A third detainee, Kamran, said that he accepted his 10-day sentence for fighting and drinking alcohol during his first hearing because he feared contesting the ruling would prisoners who refused to sign the [document] stay in jail for a longer time, so I signed it at that time. The judge keeps sending them back to jail every time they refuse thus this prolongs their stay in 16 Naveed said that other prisoners instructed him to accept his sentence as soon as , as my case was not a big offense. Otherwise, they would keep doing this to me and would not give me a proper 17 sentence. Therefore, it was better to get a s No Legal Assistance s Law on Criminal Procedure, ight to seek the assistance of a lawyer or a representative to defend him during the investigation and trial stages. 18 In addition, the Arab Charter on Human Rights, which Saudi Arabia ratified in 2009, guarantees the right to free lawyers and interpreters.19 However, in only one of the 19 criminal cases documented by Justice Project Pakistan and Human Rights Watch did the defendant have access to a defense lawyer during part of his criminal case. Saudi Arabia does not have a public defender service nor any state support to lawyers who assist those who cannot afford private lawyers. In most cases interviewees said that it was difficult to obtain legal representation because, unlike Saudi detainees, they had no access to individuals on the outside who could facilitate contact with a lawyer. In addition, most lacked financial resources. Even individuals facing the death penalty for drug-related offenses did not have legal representation or someone to assist them during the legal process. Likewise, Pakistani defendants without lawyers almost never had access to trial documents or court records. 15 Justice Project Pakistan interview with Ghulam, Faisalabad, November 17, 2015. 16 Justice Project Pakistan interview with Kamran, Narowal, November 19, 2015. 17 Justice Project Pakistan interview with Naveed, December 6, 2015. 18 Law of Criminal Procedure, art. 4. 19 Arab Charter for Human Rights, art 16.4. 15 MARCH 2018