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

September 18, 2017

Intimidation and Incarceration are Not the Answers, “Missing Princes,” Sheikh of UAE: “Empowering Women”

CDHR’s Analysis and Commentaries

Intimidation and Incarceration are Not the Answers to Saudi Arabia’s Multitude of Domestic and External Perilous Challenges

CDHR Commentary: The recently reported rash of arrests of anti-government elements in Saudi Arabia is caused by repression, economic hardships and by King Salman's and sons' belligerent domestic and foreign policies. Since Salman and his sons inherited the Saudi throne in January 2015, they introduced severe economic measures of the kind most Saudis have not experienced. They started a war in Yemen, strengthened their occupation of Bahrain, blockaded Qatar and marginalized most of the experienced and powerful Saudi princes. The latter is a recipe for disastrous consequences not only for Saudi Arabia, but for its major ally and defender, the United States of America. Read more: www.cdhr.info

“Saudi Arabia's Missing Princes”

CDHR Commentary: We hear short-lived news stories about arbitrary arrest, incarceration, flogging and mass beheadings of non-royal Saudi dissidents and alleged “terrorists,” many of whom promote democracy, free speech, religious tolerance, women’s rights and civil society. However, we hear almost none about reformers from within the autocratic Saudi ruling family who have spoken out against their family’s rampant corruption and draconian policies, as this account demonstrates.  Lack of recognition of and disregard for the efforts of royal dissenters, like Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz and the younger princes like Khaled Bin Farhan spring from worldwide cynicism about the Saudi ruling family as a whole. Read more:www.cdhr.info

“IS THE U.S. TURNING ITS BACK ON THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST EXTREMISM?”

CDHR Commentary: This analyst wrote a comment in response to an article about Muslim minorities in Europe a while back stating that, "It's only a matter of time before Western and other non-Muslim societies turn against Muslims, starting with Muslim minorities in non-Muslim countries.” As this article (by a Muslim) correctly stated: “Just saying that Islam is about peace, mercy and forgiveness is not enough. Nor is saying that the clear majority of Muslim people did not create terrorism, or even help in its emergence. We are, and we will be charged with this accusation at least until we demonstrate a much stronger effort to reform. Not doing so will result not only in the marginalization of Muslims in Western nations, but in banishing us from their social circles altogether.” Read more: www.cdhr.info

 “US slams China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia for religious repression”

CDHR Commentary: Every Secretary of State and every State Department's Annual Report have condemned the same countries for the last two decades. The State Department has designated countries like Saudi Arabia a "Country of Particular Concern" due to its religious oppression and discrimination, but follow up is not pursued and no one is held accountable. Read more: www.cdhr.info

Yemen: “The Photos the U.S. and Saudi Arabia Don’t Want You to See”

CDHR Commentary: By the time the Saudi-led (hired) Muslim/Arab coalition is done with their onslaught, Yemen will be no more than piles of corpses, pulverized mud dwellings and heart-broken mothers comforting their children dying from starvation, cholera and shrapnel from falling cluster bombs. As this wrenching account and the UN state, the Saudis are committing war crimes in Yemen with the complicity and support of the most powerful and democratic countries in the world, the  U.S. and the U.K. Read more: www.cdhr.info

Sheikh of UAE: “Empowering Women”

CDHR Commentary: Swathed in his nomadic desert white robe and sandals, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the absolute ruler of the UAE and one of the wealthiest men on earth, stood in front of a group of privileged women clad in black abayas and head covers and claimed that “Some people still wonder about the empowerment of women in our society. Such questions come most often from abroad.” This is correct because indigenous people can incur harsh royal punishments if they express their opinion and feelings about his regime’s draconian policies and practices. Read more: www.cdhr.info

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