Saudi Crown Prince: Kingdom’s laws ‘must be respected, until they’re reformed’

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the laws in the Kingdom must be respected, even some of which he might disagree with personally.

“Saudi Arabia is a country governed by laws. Some of these laws I might disagree with personally, but as long as they are now existing laws, they must be respected, until they are reformed,” the Crown Prince said during a television interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” program with Norah O'Donnell.

The CBS presenter then asked the Saudi Crown Prince about allegations that Saudi female activist Loujain al-Hathloul had been tortured in prison.

“If this is correct, it is very heinous. Islam forbids torture. The Saudi laws forbid torture. Human conscience forbids torture. And I will personally follow up on this matter,” he said.

CBS’ “60 Minutes” then the Saudi Crown Prince on his reaction on the perception that he “does not support women’s rights and human rights.”

“This perception pains me. It pains me when some people look at the picture from a very narrow angle. I hope that everybody comes to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and sees the reality, and meets women and Saudi citizens, and judges for themselves,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said.

The wide-ranging interview, which took place in Jeddah last Tuesday and aired Sunday 8:00 p.m. EST, was the Crown Prince's first public address since the September 14 attacks on the Kingdom’s key oil facilities. The attacks have been widely blamed on Iran.