One of the main topics of the yearly forum on digital public policy is improving human rights in the digital age. The event will be held on December 15–19, 2024. The groups pointed out that Saudi Arabia was lying by hosting the event while still doing things like locking people up, disappearing by force, and making people afraid to speak. Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard stated,
Saudi Arabia’s authorities have 100 days before the IGF begins to demonstrate that they will ease their draconian crackdown on freedom of expression and to show that they will use this event as an opportunity to carry out genuine reforms rather than as part of an image washing campaign.
Saudi Arabia’s web of deceit
Before the IGF starts, the Saudi authorities must free everyone who was unfairly jailed for using their right to free speech online. This will show that they are hosting a conference about the future of the Internet and that it is more than just a fake PR stunt. Saudi Arabia garners attention for its glamorous events, its ability to get high-profile athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo for its national team, and for its creative concepts like the infamous “The Line” city plan. However, the reality for Saudi Arabian citizens is that their fundamental human rights are disregarded, their liberties are curtailed, and they face harsh penalties. For instance, blogger Raif Badawi received a 1,000-lash penalty and a 10-year prison term for creating an online political discussion group and “insulting Islam.” Every week, he was supposed to be floated fifty times. Raif was finally freed in 2022, but he can’t travel. He will have to wait nine more years to visit his family after being away for 12 years. The terrible human rights record of the Gulf Kingdom is even worse than Raif’s situation.
The Saudi hypocrisy
In both the legal and practical spheres, prejudice against women and girls persists. Women are required to have a male legal guardian, and they are not allowed to select one, according to the male guardianship system that was codified into law in 2024. Even after the legislation was altered to permit women to drive, several women, like Loujain, who had backed a campaign against the prohibition were harassed and imprisoned. Before being forcefully repatriated to Ethiopia, Saudi Arabian authorities arbitrarily imprisoned, tortured, and otherwise mistreated men, women, and children from Ethiopia for up to eighteen months in cruel conditions. Before being sent back, they lived in two jails with too many people. They had limited access to food, water, toilets, and medical care. Twelve guys at least lost their lives. People are frequently the victims of egregiously unjust trials and lengthy prison terms from the courts. Individuals are frequently detained in isolation with no means of communication. After a blatantly biased trial, Leeds University student and mother of two Salma al-Shehab was found guilty of terrorism-related offenses and given a 27-year jail term. Salma al-Shehab had tweeted in favor of women’s rights.
Online freedom’s dark side
The Saudi government controls the country’s media, and journalists are subject to jail sentences for a range of alleged “crimes.” Saudi officials, including the Crown Prince, approved the savage murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi since the man had been critical of the kingdom. The nation’s leaders have never been made to answer for their actions. Since Saudi Arabia has a history of suppressing and jailing opponents, many civil society activists and human rights defenders who usually go to the annual conference have made big reservations about flying to Saudi Arabia to take part. They are afraid of being detained, harassed, or monitored. Amnesty International is urging the IGF organizing committee to publicly request guarantees from the Saudi government that no one will be refused entry to attend the conference, that no IGF participant will experience harassment of any kind, including detention and monitoring, and that everyone will be free to express themselves.
Saudi Arabia’s double standard
Salma al-Shehab is one of the people who has been found guilty due to their expression on the internet. Because she tweeted about women’s rights, she was arrested in January 2021. After a very unfair trial, she was sentenced in January 2023 to a shocking 27-year jail term and a 27-year travel restriction for false accusations of terrorism. Additionally, those targeted include Red Crescent worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, who was sentenced to 20 years in April 2020 for his satirical tweets, to be followed by a 20-year travel ban, following an egregiously unfair trial; and retired schoolteacher Mohammad bin Nasser al-Ghamdi, who was sentenced to death in July 2023 for his online activity on YouTube and his criticism of authorities on X (formerly Twitter).