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

April 22, 2016

Obama Visit, Gulf Rulers’ Vulnerability, Demotions and Turmoil in Arab States and Islamophobia

CDHR’s Analysis and Commentaries

President Obama off to Saudi Arabia at a Time of High Anxieties and an Uncertain Future

CDHR Commentary: On the eve of his flight to Saudi Arabia, prognosticators and other Washington pundits are urging President Obama to repair fractured US/ Saudi relations when he meets with King Salman on Wednesday, April 20 in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The discourse is mostly restricted to the same old themes: the Saudi royals’ role in stabilizing the Middle East, fighting terrorism and trade. Not surprisingly, none of Washington’s political drummers counsel President Obama to protest the repression of the Saudi people or to convey to the Saudi rulers the US increased concern over and objection to the Saudi establishments’ continued practice of creating new generations of extremists in Saudi schools and mosques.  Read More: www.cdhr.info

Islam, Muslims and Islamophobia

CDHR Commentary: Muslim regimes and societies continue to re-enforce the pervasive toxic image of their faith at a time when they should be doing all they can to show (in deeds not in declarations) that their faith is what they portray it to be, a religion of peace, justice, tolerance and the only belief that can save humanity, according to former Saudi King Abdullah (may he rest in peace.) As it is, Muslims, by their actions, continue to support the argument of those who portray Islam as anything but peaceful or tolerant, as demonstrated by the raging wars of Muslims on Muslims and by numerous examples like the saga of the people in this video. Read more: www.cdhr.info

Re-Visiting UN 16/18: Defending Religions or Suppressing Freedom of Expression?

CDHR Commentary: Given the ongoing carnage in Arab and Muslim lands (including intensified attacks on religious minorities), increased and bold attacks on democratic societies, this article is worth re-visiting. The UN Resolution (16/18) is not designed to defend religions, but to deny free people their God given and constitutional rights to think and speak freely. The designers and promoters (OIC) of this resolution are the most disrespectful of religions, including their own, as exemplified by the death and destruction they rain on each other in the name of religion. Those of us who critiqued the UN 16/18 five years ago were accused of being Islam and Muslim bashers.  The question is: Can anyone outdo Arab and Muslim autocracies and theocracies defamation of their f aith? Read more: www.cdhr.info

Egypt: From Dominance to Mortifying Dependence

CDHR Commentary: From being culturally, militarily, strategically and socially the most dominant Arab country, Egypt is being reduced into a fragile state whose economic survival depends on conditional handouts from its historical staunch and anti-modernity enemies, the Saudis and other ruling nomadic-based autocracies of the oil rich Gulf Arab states. King Salman’s recent visit was to ensure Egypt’s continued financial dependence on Saudis and other GCC rulers, but that’s not all. Read more: www.cdhr.info

The Unspeakable Treatment of Poverty Stricken Migrant Laborers in Saudi Arabia

CDHR Commentary: Many human rights groups and some conscientious Saudi journalists like this one have described the employment and treatment of about 10 million migrant workers in Saudi Arabia as equivalent to “Modern Slavery.” Despite their membership in international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), whose rules and regulations to protect migrant workers from religious, financial and physical abuses are clear and are supposed to be upheld by all member states, Saudi employers (sponsors) treat their migrant workers as if they are subhuman or not human at all. Read more: www.cdhr.info

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