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

March 11, 2016

Inclusive Caliphate, Defeating ISIS, Blaming Women and Back Door Municipal Elections

CDHR’s Analysis and Commentaries

 Is a Saudi-Led Caliphate in the Making?       

CDHR’s Analysis:  While the major international powers are futilely trying to stop ISIS’s ideological and territorial gains, a more inclusive Muslim Caliphate seems to be in the making. Realizing its inability to survive without external powers’ protection, Saudi Arabia, on the one hand, is courting the West to protect it and, on the other hand, is relentlessly pursuing unification of  autocratic and theocratic Sunni Muslim regimes to form a united  military force (coalition) headquartered in Saudi Arabia.

Based on what Saudi Defense Minister Prince Mohammed said (in Arabic) when he announced the formation of this 34-country coalition on Dec. 15, 2015, the Saudis’ long term objective may go beyond the overt pronouncements made by the Saudis that this force is intended to fight “terrorists” (as they define them.)  Known as masters of duplicitous schemes, the Saudi rulers are taking advantage of justified Western complaints that Sunni Muslims are not doing enough to fight ISIS. When asked whether the newly formed Muslim force will be used only to fight ISIS, Prince Mohammed replied that it would be used against any threat. Read more: www.cdhr.info

Can ISIS Be Defeated By Guns And Bombs? 

 CDHR’s Commentary: Hoping that ISIS can be defeated by guns and bombs is a delusion. ISIS manifests a combination of a drive for complete male control over female sexuality and authoritarian Mosque-State control over all aspects of subject societies. In the long run, the defeat of ISIS will come from worldwide demonstration of the advantages -- social, economic and political--of ordered free societies open to the intellectual and economic contributions of all its citizens, of whatever gender or religious creed. Read more: www.cdhr.info

Electing Saudi Women Re-enforces Gender Segregation And Inequality

CDHR’s Commentary: In a fearless open letter to the geriatric Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Prince Mite'b bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Samar Fatany, a prominent Saudi advocate of tolerance and  peaceful reform, courageously elucidated that the extremist wing of the ruling Saudi elites is not only blocking any potential progress (even cosmetic steps like municipal elections), but is endangering the country’s unity and inciting non-Muslims to blame Islam for intolerance, terrorism and cruelty, as exemplified by ISIS’s butchery. Read more: www.cdhr.info

Denying Saudi Women The Right To Work Then Blaming Them For Being Indolent 

CDHR’s Commentary: In what seem to be well-rehearsed answers to questions asked by a reporter of The British Economist, Saudi deputy Crown Prince, Defense Minister and economic development overseer, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (the king’s son), gave a positive, albeit misleading, account of the Saudi kingdom’s political, legal, economic, religious and social affairs. Among the many exaggerated and unsubstantiated answers the novice prince is quoted to have said is that Saudi Arabia has a legislative parliament. The Saudi people would be the first to contradict the Prince’s depiction of the rosy affairs of a regime known domestically and globally for its draconian political and religious policies and practices. Read more: www.cdhr.info

The Saudi Rulers Ought To Emulate The British Experience

CDHR’s Commentary: In a recent article in The Financial Times, Nick Butler wrote a pragmatic piece suggesting that the Saudis reconsider their current oil policy. Butler advocates a pull back on oil production, making room in the oil market for slightly higher and more stable prices for other OPEC members like Iraq, Venezuela and Iran. In doing so, the Saudis would show some respect for economic forces and for other oil producers whose income, like the Saudis’, relies heavily on oil revenues. Like many observers of Saudi policies, influence and behavior, Butler understands that the Saudis’ global influence has been in a steady decline due to economic, political and strategic forces over which the Saudis have no control. Read more: www.cdhr.info

Abuses Of Poverty-Stricken Migrant Workers In Saudi Arabia And Other Gulf States

CDHR’s Commentary: Despite being signatories to international declarations on migrant workers’ rights (especially the WTO), the oil rich Gulf Arab States (GCC) are among the worst abusers of migrant workers. 70% of the work force in these countries consists mostly of poverty stricken migrant workers who are severely abused by their employers and neglected by the international community, including labor unions and their home countries.

Due to their desperate need to make a meager living, these migrant workers tolerate unspeakable cruelty such as sexual and physical abuse of maids, 24 hour on call work schedules (drivers and maids), withholding of wages for months, and unhealthy living conditions for laborers. Most of these workers are virtually imprisoned because their employers confiscate their documents upon arrival. Additionally, the migrant workers in the Gulf States have no legal, social or religious rights, especially the non-Muslims, due to the autocratic, hierarchical nature of these societies and to the absence of non-sectarian rule of law. Read more: www.cdhr.info