The Bush Administration's decision to sell $20 billion worth of sophisticated military hardware to the Saudi and other royal families of the Gulf States is ill advised and runs counter to the Administration's earlier encouraging calls for democratic reforms in the region, especially in Saudi Arabia, where citizens are excluded from the political and economic decision making, women have no rights, expatriates are exploited and abused, and American soldiers who are assigned to protect the ruling families are prohibited ...Continue Reading

The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia July 19, 2007 Secret Saudi Assistance: Exporting Terror By Dr. Ali Alyami Special Newsletter Powerful Prince Rules Out Elections Director’s Comment: Prince Naif is known for his opposition to democratic reforms, loath of reformers, and staunch support for religious extremists, whom he supervises in conducting violent actions against citizens. Recently, as the Saudi Minister of Interior, he was asked whether the powerless Majlis al-Shura, the Consultative Counci ...Continue Reading

Rash of Death and Injuries in Religious Police Interrogation Centers The “Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” is an exclusive Saudi government agency staffed with devious, excessively aggressive men known as Matawein, domesticators, or religious police. These men are hired and trained by the Saudi government, and they are authorized to intrude into every aspect of people’s lives to ensure religious laws and customs are enforced. Their authority is unlimited and their actions are rarely questio ...Continue Reading

The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia Washington DC *_Women Are Easy Targets_*  Women are denied rights granted men in Saudi religious court.  Women are not allowed to represent themselves in or even sit in courts when their verdicts are read.  Recently a woman took an official of the austere theocratic religious police, Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, to court for mistreatment. She has been shoved around because the religious police are part of t ...Continue Reading

The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia Washington DC *_Close Call_* By Dr. Ali Alyami On April 27 2007, the Saudi government announced startling information about a foiled plot aimed at inflicting massive death and destruction in many parts of Saudi Arabia. According to accounts published in the Saudi Arabic Daily Alwatan on May 9 and Arab News on April 28, preparation for a deadly plot was designed to wreak death and destruction that could have far reaching implications for Saudi Arabia and the ...Continue Reading

*The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia* */Presents:/* *"Saudi Arabia: Alternatives to Autocratic Rule and Religious Intolerance"* Co-Sponsors Include: */The Coalition for the Defense of Human RightsThe Hudson Center’s Institute for Religious Freedom&Christian Solidarity International/* *May 1st 2007 1-5:30pm*Cannon House Office Building Room 304, Washington, DCFor More Details Please Click *_Here_*Due to limited seating, please RSVP with your name, group, group size and phone # to:*_R ...Continue Reading

*The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia* *Washington DC* *_New Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Gets Warm Reception in the US Senate_* By Dr. Ali AlyamiThe U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations conducted a hearing on March 22, 2007 concerning the nomination of Mr. Ford Fraker to the post of U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. One of the observers at the hearing described the event as not much more than a cordial reception.Instead of asking tough questions of Mr. Fraker on his past relationships with ...Continue Reading