Saudi Arabia has made an effort to change its public image recently, thanks to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s gradual opening of the nation to foreign investors and world leaders. However, people who are familiar with the inner workings of the kingdom present a different picture, one that contradicts bin Salman’s portrayal of a “vibrant society.”
Saudi Arabia’s dark secrets
While ordinary people live in constant dread of being targeted by authorities on the internet, jailed human rights advocates are nonetheless subject to lengthy prison terms and arbitrary travel restrictions stemming from dubious allegations. Furthermore, underprivileged groups still have little rights and face harsh penalties for exercising their civic freedoms. It is more crucial than ever to pay attention to the opinions of researchers, human rights advocates, and groups that keep an eye on Saudi Arabia’s abuses of human rights, especially as more outside parties conduct business with the country. Head of ALQST’s monitoring and advocacy Lina al-Hathloul told Global Citizen, “Saudi Arabia is opening up to the world but closing off to its own citizens.” “Saudi civil society is characterized by a constant state of fear, secret trials, and obscure prisons, all while the outside world perceives Saudi Arabia differently through entertainment and sports.” ALQST for Human Rights steps in at this point. Yahya Assiri, a human rights advocate from Saudi Arabia, founded the organization in 2014, and since then, it has been a well-known voice for exposing abuses, offering assistance to victims, and calling for responsibility.
Human rights in the shadows
Joey Shea, a researcher with Human Rights Watch in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, told Global Citizen that “the abuses in Saudi Arabia are mounting to such a degree that it is simply not possible for only Amnesty or Human Rights Watch to be doing this work.” “We require a whole institution tasked with keeping an eye on the nation’s civic space and determining the true scope of the abuses occurring there.” Saudi Arabia is rated as “closed” by the CIVICUS Monitor, which assesses the quality of civic space in every nation on the planet. This implies that there is total obstruction to the freedom of speech, the capacity to gather in protest or likeness, and the opportunity to voice concerns about society. One of the best executioners in the world is Saudi Arabia. The monarchy carried out 196 executions, the most ever recorded for a single year in the nation’s history. Saudi Arabia has repressed online free expression in the last few years, targeting journalists, activists, public servants, and common citizens with sophisticated monitoring and filtering measures.
Truth behind the Kingdom
The de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, seems to be strengthening his hold on power after a recent round of arrests of those he believes to be opponents to his authority. Two of the most well-known royals in the realm, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the king’s lone surviving full brother, and former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, were among those taken into custody during the most recent raid. Reports that the princes were involved in a conspiracy to overthrow Saudi King Salman and the crown prince, MBS, have gone unanswered by the Saudi authorities. MBS has gotten positive press in international media since he outwitted more powerful opponents to become crown prince in 2017, with several stories highlighting his social and economic changes in the conservative country. The horrific murder of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, along with a crackdown on dissent in the kingdom and past arrests, have drawn attention to MBS’s less positive aspects. In addition, since his ascension to power, the number of executions has rapidly increased, resulting in thousands of civilian fatalities in Yemen.
Rights violations exposed
Targeting the Houthi rebels, who were rapidly gaining ground, Saudi Arabia launched an aircraft campaign in 2015 to interfere in the neighboring country of Yemen’s civil conflict. In an effort to undo their advances, the Saudi-UAE-led coalition has launched almost 20,000 attacks on Houthi-held territory with logistical assistance from the US.
Human rights organizations have said that the coalition troops led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are hitting hospitals, schools, and other facilities without distinction. Tens of thousands of people have died in the protracted conflict, which has also forced millions more to flee their homes and put much of the nation in danger of starvation. The UN has called Yemen’s humanitarian catastrophe the worst in history. In an April 2018 interview with Time, MBS justified the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen, stating, “Mistakes happen in any military operation. Naturally, any errors committed by the coalition or Saudi Arabia are accidental.