The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia

located in Washington D.C.

Presents:

How Empowering Saudi Women Can Undermine Islamist Extremism

Wednesday, July 29, 10 AM – 2 PM on Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill Visitors Center Room HVC 201 A & B

The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (CDHR) is pleased to invite you to attend and participate in an informative and thought-provoking conference: How Empowering Saudi Women Can Undermine Islamist Extremism. This unique conference will be held on Wednesday, July 29 from 10 AM to 2 PM on Capitol Hill, Room HVC 201 A & B, in the Capitol Visitors Center, a short walk from Capital South Metro Station (Blue and Orange lines).

Saudi Arabia is a country “Without Borders”. Because of its centrality to Islam, Saudi Arabia plays a major role in the lives, attitudes and perceptions of an estimated 1.5 billion Arabs and Muslims, especially the most vulnerable and poverty stricken who look to the autocratic ruling Saudi dynasty and its pre-modern institutions for religious guidance.

Economically, Saudi Arabia sits atop the world’s largest known oil reserves and has the capacity to produce and ship oil across the globe. This makes the stability and security of the Saudi Kingdom a supreme priority for many decision makers around the world, specifically in the US. The combination of momentous religious and economic power in the hands of one of the world’s last absolute monarchies with restless, disenfranchised and marginalized citizens can cause global economic havoc. Given these obtrusive realities, the international community is unlikely to accept any external or internal threats to Saudi security and stability. The question is: at what price does this security come?

Until now, Saudi stability and security have been maintained by the sword internally and by military might externally.However, recent events and unprecedented politicization of radical Islam in the Middle East have exposed the ineffectiveness of relying on brute methods and religious totalitarianism to maintain stability and security in Saudi Arabia or anywhere in the volatile Arab World.

Fortunately, there is a safe and readily available option: Empower the Saudi people, especially women, to secure and stabilize their country. This is in the best interest of Saudi citizens, the Middle East and the international community. This can be done only if the large and ideologically divided autocratic Saudi ruling princes accept the fact that the country is not their private property, “Saudi” Arabia. This is where the international community, especially the US, can help the Saudi ruling dynasty understand that its old methods of ruling have run their course.

Having been the primary protector of Saudi Arabia and its autocratic ruling family since the state’s inception in 1933, the United States is in a position to play hardball with the ruling Saudi oligarchs. In reality, if it were not for America’s protection of the Saudi monarchy and its vast desert domain, the country and its rulers could have been overrun by one of the dynasty’s staunch and stronger rivals in the region, Iraq or Iran, or overthrown by its severely repressed population. These facts are more salient now than ever in light of recent developments and domestic and regional restlessness. Contrary to the arguments of Saudis and their apologists in the US, the US is the only country the Saudi princes can rely on to save them and protect their kingdom.

It is inconceivable to think that the US will abandon Saudi Arabia or allow any other power to dominate the Saudi oil fields now or in the foreseeable future. This fact may require US militarily intervention to secure the Saudi vast oil installations and ensure oil production and shipping to the world’s markets. This ominous possibility of military entanglement can be avoided if the Obama Administration has the vision and fortitude to lead the international community in convincing the Saudi ruling family that the US cannot and will not continue to support a system that denies its people, especially women, their very fundamental human rights, including full participation in governing themselves and protecting their country.

As documented by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom House and even the US Department of State, Saudi women are among the most oppressed and marginalized citizens in Arab and Muslim countries. In addition to its immoral and crippling political, economic, social and educational consequences on Saudi society, this system of denying women their human rights is imitated in other Muslims countries, especially among poor and traditional groups who use their Sharia court systems to justify abuses and the marginalization of Muslim women.

As the only NGO in the US focused totally on Saudi Arabia, CDHR has assembled a group of highly educated, well informed and dedicated human rights activists, Muslim women and men, as well as former US government officials to elaborate on the importance of empowering Saudi women.

Please join us on Wednesday, July 29th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Capitol Hill in the Capitol Visitors Center Room HVC 201 A&B to investigate this vital topic with us. Seats are limited so please RSVP. To reserve your spot or for further information contact Lauren Baker at lauren@PROTECTED or call us at 202.558.5552

Lunch will be served in compliance with the House rules

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