Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia, CDHR, Washington DC

January 2, 2017

Trump is not the Saudis’ Choice, Institutionalized Violence Against Women and Relapsing Arab Development

CDHR’s Analysis and Commentaries

Saudis Hoped for Clinton, Instead, They Got Trump

CDHR Analysis: The Saudis’ (and other Gulf Arab ruling families’) vocalized optimism about better relations with US President-elect Donald Trump does not conceal their disappointment  over Hillary Clinton’s defeat. Favoring Secretary Clinton does not reflect any desire on the part of the Saudi rulers to empower women. But in this case, having her in the Oval Office would have spared them uncertainties about what to expect from President-elect Trump and his cabinet appointees, many of whom “…are convinced Islam’s moral rules, the sharia, not only imperil the safety of Americans but their very way of life.” The Saudi rulers and businessmen have known and established auspicious official and personal relations with Bill and Hilary Clinton for decades. To the Saudis, Secretary Clinton represents the established American political order with which they are familiar and against which Trump campaigned and triumphed. For more Details: www.cdhr.info

It’s Time to Take Muslim Terrorists At Their Word

 CDHR Commentary: Preserving Western Civilization and evading costly (in human and material terms) lengthy ideology-based conflicts, as stated in this chilling account, demand total defeat of “Radical Islam.” As evidenced by the carnage committed by Muslim terrorists in western countries in recent times, most westerners continue to live in a state of denial, failing to develop an effective strategy to protect their populations and democratic way of life.  For more Details: www.cdhr.info

Institutionalized Violence Against Saudi Women  

CDHR Commentary: “Princess Lamia Bint Majed AlSaud, Secretary General at {Prince} Alwaleed Philanthropies,” is quoted to have said that ‘Female victims of domestic violence are often reluctant to speak up about their abuse because of their fear of scandal or the society’s disapproval. Our role as NGO’s is to educate women about their legal rights and remind the society that domestic violence is an illegal crime.’ While it’s encouraging to hear members of the autocratic ruling family speak to the plight of most Saudi women, they are either detached from the reality on the ground, or trying to mislead the world into believing that abused women are entitled to protection by an independent legal system that’s enforceable and applicable to all. For more Details: www.cdhr.info

Saudi Princes on Women’s Right To Drive

CDHR Commentary: Prince Alwaleed (one of the world’s wealthiest men) recently professed that continuing to prevent Saudi women from driving is burdensome for most Saudi families. He is right, and we have no doubt that he and a small number of the large and mostly detached-from-society ruling princes and princesses would like to see the mortifying and contemptuous ban on women’s right to drive delegitimized, as long as it does not endanger the royal family’s control over the country, its population and wealth. For more Details: www.cdhr.info

Arabs Are Inching Toward Becoming Global Pariahs

CDHR Commentary: According to this UN Arab Human Development Report (which is worse than the scathing 2002 Report), the Arab World is inching toward anarchical disintegration. Poor education, entrenched stifling social and traditional mores and lack of economic opportunities are attributed to religious and political totalitarianism and squandering of public revenues. These facts translate into a sense of hopelessness, helplessness, extremism and envy, thus fueling a rise in terrorism, death and destruction at home and around the world. Transformation of Arab beliefs, education, perceptions and, above all, political and religious institutions is the only way to save the Arabs from each other and potential global retaliation.  

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