Why Saudis Dread Public Criticism

CDHR Commentary: As the Saudi regime’s impetuous reactions to a tweet by the Canadian Foreign Minister appealing for the release of peaceful advocates of huma n rights, and as this contradictory account by a native Saudi female lobbyist demonstrate, the Saudi oligarchs, like all tyrannical regimes, fear public criticism of their draconian domestic policies. Despite the Saudi rulers’ claims of domestic stability and support for the ruling dynasty, they live in constant fear of the impact of exposure of their repressive practices against their increasingly restless population, especiallyadvocates of human rights, accountability and social justice. If indeed the Saudi rulers’ claims of stability and public support were true, then why are they spending large amounts of public revenues on a wide range of the most expensive American and European lobbyists and institutions to promote Saudi Arabia as a bastion of domestic stability and a role model for others to emulate in the region? Read more: www.cdhr.info

Behind Impetuous Arrests and First Woman’s Beheading  

CDHR Commentary: As this report reveals, beheading is now applicable to pro freedom of expression, choice and social justice male and female activists in Saudi Arabia. Arresting peaceful women pioneer activists and condemning Israa al-Ghomgham as the first Saudi woman to be beheaded should not have come as a surprise. Israa al-Ghomgham is a member of the oppressed, humiliated and ostracized Shi’a community, which the Saudi government, its religious establishment and most Saudi Sunni citizens consider apostate, thus punishing and killing them do not contradict Saudi/Wahhabi historical practice. Prominent among those who dogmatically believe that Shi’a are not only heretics, but a threat to Sunni Islam and the international community is Crown Prince Mohammed, who is extravagantly exalted by western media and interests groups as a reformer determined to make Saudi Arabia a safe home for all adherents of all beliefs and orientations. Read more: www.cdhr.info