DOCSLIB.ORG

Appeal for Clemency for Raif Badawi We Are Appealing to Your

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Appeal for Clemency for Raif Badawi We Are Appealing to Your Appeal for Clemency for Raif Badawi We are appealing to your sense of mercy in requesting clemency for Raif and Samar Badawi. As you know, Raif Badawi has been in prison for over seven years and Samar Badawi is being detained incommunicado without charges or access to family or a lawyer. Our appeal is based on appreciation for your authority, Saudi Arabian law and the Sharia law that governs this matter. More specifically, we base our appeal on the Qur’an and the Sunna of the Prophet, which provide the source for all worldly authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Basic Regulation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Articles 1 and 7). Acts Infringing on Religious Values – the Centrality of Maslahạ Raif Badawi was sentenced for violating the cyber criminal prohibition on acts that infringe on religious values, an offence created in order to further community welfare, or Maslahạ . It is thus considered a ta’zir offence under Sharia law, with no mandated punishment. Ta’zir offences afford the worldly sovereign the absolute greatest flexibility in sentencing offenders. Similarly, once the accused has started serving the sentence, the sovereign has the discretion to pardon ta’zir offences by considering whether it furthers Maslahạ — the ultimate purpose of Sharia. Indeed, it is the supreme obligation of the worldly sovereign to protect the public interest (Al-Masalih Al-'Amma). We therefore ask that your Royal Highness look to the light of Revelation and the example of the Prophet for guidance in promoting Maslahạ in the case of Raif and Samar Badawi. Maslahạ and Bolstering Saudi Arabia’s Reputation as a World Leader Saudi Arabia’s international standing has been prejudiced by a number of recent events including the Yemen war, the Qatar embargo and the Khashoggi affair. Some international media sources have cautioned that the Kingdom is facing a serious reputational crisis. The international critique of Saudi Arabia may continue to intensify without the Kingdom sending a clear signal to the world that it remains committed to its promised reforms. Presently, at the forefront of international concern are (1) freedom of expression and (2) the progress of women in Saudi Arabia. The release of Raif and Samar Badawi, the international symbols who embody these two respective areas, will send the clearest possible message that the Kingdom remains committed to its promises of reform. Such a gesture will showcase to the world that the Kingdom’s actions are consistent with its public pronouncements, thus consolidating its reputation as a world leader and ensuring a successful 2030 Vision. What follows is a summary of the considerations that warrant a granting of clemency to Raif and Samar Badawi. 1. Raif Badawi Exercised Moderate and Protected Expression Under Saudi Arabian Law Raif Badawi was imprisoned for simply creating a forum for exchanging ideas online and expressing moderate views therein, actions that further your vision for a moderate Islam and free access to online media. His writings echo the very same ideas and aspirations for modernization championed by your Royal Highness. In an interview with The Atlantic in April of 2018, you laid out a standard for freedom of speech in Saudi Arabia that cannot cross “three lines:” (1) the defamation of Islam; (2) personal attacks against authority figures and (3) national security. The speech for which Raif Badawi is imprisoned cannot be categorized as crossing any of the three lines. First, far from defaming Islam, his writings venerate leading clerics and prominent religious authorities, and are anchored in the text of the Holy Qur’an. Second, no personal attacks are contained in his writings. In fact, he never even singled out individuals with whom he disagreed. Third, far from posing a threat to national security, Raif Badawi sought to strengthen Saudi Arabia. In fact, if released, his moderate and reasonable voice would serve as an important buffer against the spread of violent extremism in Saudi Arabia. In his writings, he shares the goals of the Saudi leadership for a stronger and more developed Saudi Arabia. Thus, Raif Badawi expressed protected speech and his conviction breached the Saudi Arabian standard of freedom of expression. 2. Internationally Celebrated Heroes: Raif and Samar Badawi are Distinguishable from Extremist Islamist Prisoners Raif and Samar Badawi are clearly distinguishable from prisoners who have promoted extremist Islam, violence and rebellion, or are in prison under crimes of terrorism for these offences. Such violent prisoners can pose a clear threat to national security. In contrast, Raif Badawi’s writings reflect a deep patriotism. In a tribute to Saudi National Day, he expresses a true love of the Saudi nation and calls for patriots to protect the nation “with their souls, money and through the next generation.” In fact, Raif Badawi spoke out against extremism and political Islam. Instead, he expressed views of tolerance and modernization, promoting “advancement through dialogue.” These are ideas which only aim to protect and strengthen national security and have been echoed by your Royal Highness. The grounds for Samar Badawi’s arrest remain unknown, and therefore the expression for which she is in prison is unclear. It is clear, however, that she has never been associated with extremism. She is chiefly known for her involvement in the campaign to lift the ban on women driving, representing another pillar of your moderate reforms. Moreover, Raif and Samar Badawi are singularly unique in their elevated status as celebrated international heroes, universally recognized for their human rights advocacy. Samar is the recipient of the US State Department’s International Women of Courage Award, while Raif has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and is the recipient of the European Union’s highest honour, the Sakharov Prize, among dozens of other awards and accolades. Thus, Raif and Samar Badawi are unique outliers in the Saudi prison system and their release will not affect the continued imprisonment of other extremists. It will, however, reverberate positively throughout the world and will resonate in support of the national interests of Saudi Arabia and that of your Highness. 3. The Importance of Balance and the Justice Principle The entire system of the Universe is founded on justice; those who dwell in it shall respect the bounds of their authority and not disturb the balance (Ar Rahman, vv. 7-9). This balance dictates that punishment is not merely a means for expiating sins in this world. Rather, punishment serves to absolve the sinner of punishment in the Hereafter, as Allah is too generous to repeat punishment that has already been served (Tirmidhi, Tabarani). The determination and enforcement of appropriate sentences is not only the right of the worldly sovereign, but also a weighty responsibility. Sentences for ta’zir offences should be guided by the principle of balance (Qur’an 55:9, 55:10). As such, the worldly sovereign should ensure that a sentence is no more severe than the minimum needed to accomplish the goals of punishment, as it is written: It is better for the ruler to err in granting a pardon than to err in enforcing a punishment (Al-Tirmidhi #1344). Accordingly, where punishment is too lenient, the sinner will be punished further in the Hereafter, while the worldly sovereign will have respected the dictate of erring on the side of pardon. On the other hand, where the punishment is too severe, the sovereign will himself have offended the principles of Sharia. As expressed by the Saudi judge Saykh Sulaymān al-Musā, in 1985: Here we make judgments only for this world. In the Hereafter all those whom we judged here will confront us and demand an accounting or reckoning. Clemency for the Badawis accords with the foundational principles of justice, compassion and balance. a. Application of the Principles of Balance and Mercy to Raif Badawi Raif Badawi was convicted under Article 6 of the Anti-Cyber Crime Law, which provides for “imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years.” Although the prosecution initially requested a five-year prison sentence, the sentences against Raif Badawi varied significantly over the course of his legal proceedings. He was ultimately sentenced to ten years, in clear violation of the law which allows for a maximum five-year sentence. At this point, after already languishing in prison for over seven years, a grant of clemency would correct these injustices, comply with Saudi law and avoid an overly severe punishment. Indeed, a grant of clemency would be consistent with past royal intervention to mitigate his sentence. In 2015, after the first 50 lashes of the 1000-lash sentence were administered, the royal family intervened to suspend the remaining lashes indefinitely. Thus a grant of clemency would serve the principle of balance and bolster the credibility of the royal family since it would be consistent with Saudi law and past merciful intervention in this case. In this regard, we understand that there have been statements seeking harshness in the sentencing of Raif Badawi made by his father, Mohammed Badawi. However, with all due respect, Mohammed Badawi has no legal standing to intervene. Firstly, the Jeddah Criminal Court already dismissed the complaint filed by Mohammed Badawi against Raif Badawi in this case. Second, Mohammed Badawi’s guardianship over Samar Badawi has long been removed. In June 2010, a court ordered the transfer of Samar Badawi’s guardianship to her uncle. Then, in October 2010, the Governor of Mecca at the time, Prince Khalid bin Faisal al-Saud, confirmed her uncle as her guardian. Finally, Mohammed Badawi’s statements are ultimately irrelevant to this case. The duty to determine punishment for ta’zir offences and protect Maslahạ rests solely with the worldly sovereign, not Mohammed Badawi.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 2016.03 HRC31 ADHRB Written Statement Saudi
    United Nations A/HRC/31/NGO/67 General Assembly Distr.: General 18 February 2016 English only Human Rights Council Thirty-first session Agenda item 4 Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention Written statement* submitted by Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain Inc, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31. [12 February 2016] * This written statement is issued, unedited, in the language(s) received from the submitting non- governmental organization(s). GE.16-02395(E) *1602395* A/HRC/31/NGO/67 Death Sentences and Civil Society in Saudi Arabia Executions in Saudi Arabia Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain would like to use the occasion of the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council to express our serious concern at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s increased use of the death penalty and continued targeting of human rights defenders. Throughout 2015, the government continued its arrest, imprisonment, and sentencing of numerous human rights activists. In 2015, Saudi Arabia executed more than 150 people—the highest in a single year since 1995. On 2 January 2016, the Government of Saudi Arabia carried out a mass execution of 47 people. Among those executed included at least three political dissidents, several mentally ill prisoners, prisoners arrested for crimes committed as minors, and the Muslim cleric and human rights activist Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr. Sheikh Nimr was a popular social and religious leader who denounced systematic discrimination against Saudi Arabia’s minorities and called for activists to use nonviolent resistance to achieve justice and equality for all Saudi citizens.
    [Show full text]
  • Impending Developments and Transformations in International Law
    The Chinese Journal of Global Governance 3 (2017) 83–159 brill.com/cjgg The Clash of Architects: Impending Developments and Transformations in International Law Joel Slawotsky IDC Herzliya, Israel [email protected] Abstract The world stands at the precipice of a transitional moment in the international law writ caused by the reasonable likelihood that new architects will be joining (and eventually supplanting) the present-day architects. Transformative geo-political and economic developments such as OBOR, the AIIB, NDB and the increasing internationalization of the Yuan all herald potentially significant changes to the existing international gover- nance architecture. “Revisionist” states with strong motivations and global ambitions, may will become international law creators as these new architects influence the eco- nomic and legal orders. International law is not static and several of the new architects’ customs and norms inherently conflict with current Western ideals. Will international law norms converge? Will Western notions gravitate towards the other spectrum in enlightened self-interest? The impact on international law norms, enforcement, human rights, sustainability, trade and investment treaties and arbitration will be far-reaching. Understanding how this potential re-orientations in power will affect international law is of critical importance. Keywords global governance architecture – international law – norms The world stands at the precipice of a transitional moment for international law affecting both the creation and enforcement of international law;1 access 1 The dispute between China and the United States over the South China Sea provides an apt illustration. See Michael Martina, Greg Torode and Ben Blanchard, China scrambles © Slawotsky, Joel, 2�17 | doi 10.1163/23525207-12340025 This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution- Noncommercial 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-NC 3.0) License.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy in the MENA Region Ten Years After the Arab Spring
    Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Hearing Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy in the MENA Region Ten Years After the Arab Spring Thursday, April 28, 2021 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Virtual vis Cisco WebEx As prepared for delivery Good morning and thank you for joining us today for this Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing on the Middle East and North Africa ten years after the Arab Spring. I extend a special welcome to the witnesses and thank them for their commitment to human rights and for sharing their expertise with us today. It’s been ten years since a wave of popular pro-democracy, pro-human rights movements in mostly Muslim countries of the Middle East and North Africa inspired hope in the region and the world. In short order we witnessed the resignation of an authoritarian president in Tunisia, important constitutional reforms in Morocco and the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. Change seemed on the horizon in Bahrain and in Syria. But ten years later, many of the initial successes have been rolled back. Most of the popular movements have been brutally repressed by authoritarian rulers who, instead of being replaced by democratic leaders, have consolidated their grip on power. Syria, Yemen and Libya have been ravaged by armed conflicts with devastating humanitarian consequences for the region and the world. Rep. James P. McGovern, MENA Ten Years After the Arab Spring, Page 1 of 4 As we will hear today, authoritarian governments across the region have used similar methods to suppress dissent, many of which are simply and unequivocally human rights violations.
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi Arabia Page 1 of 18
    Saudi Arabia Page 1 of 18 Published on Freedom House (https://freedomhouse.org) Home > Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Country: Saudi Arabia Year: 2015 Status: Not Free Total Score: 73 (0 = Best, 100 = Worst) Obstacles to Access: 15 (0 = Best, 25 = Worst) Limits on Content: 24 (0 = Best, 35 = Worst) Violations of User Rights: 34 (0 = Best, 40 = Worst) Population: 30.8 million Internet Penetration: 64 percent Social Media/ICT Apps Blocked: Yes Political/Social Content Blocked: Yes Bloggers/ICT Users Arrested: Yes Press Freedom Status: Not Free Key Developments: https://freedomhouse.org/print/47723 12/8/2016 Saudi Arabia Page 2 of 18 June 2014–May 2015 • The Saudi television channel Rotana ordered Google to take down a video of the satirical YouTube show “Fitnah” on copyright grounds, after the show had used footage from Rotana to criticize its owner, Prince Waleed bin Talal. The video was later restored by YouTube (see Content Removal). • Human rights activists Waleed Abu al-Khair and Fowzan al-Harbi have had their prison sentences extended to 15 and 10 years, respectively, upon appeals by the public prosecutor (see Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities). • Raif Badawi, who co-founded the website Saudi Arabia Liberals, had his 10-year sentence suspended and later upheld by the Supreme Court and received the first set of 50 lashes in January. He was sentenced to a total 1,000 lashes, to be carried out in public (see Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities). • During a funeral for the victims of an attack by Islamic State (IS) militants on a Shiite mosque, political activist Waleed Sulais was beaten by two men who accused him of insulting them on social networks (see Intimidation and Violence).
    [Show full text]
  • URGENT APPEAL the Case of Raif Badawi
    URGENT APPEAL The Case of Raif Badawi To the attention of: Special Procedures, United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner May 1, 2019 Related mandates Arbitrary Detention Freedom of opinion and expression Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Human rights defenders Torture Victims Name: Raif Badawi ​ Type: Individual ​ Sex: Male ​ Date of birth: 13/01/1984 ​ Nationality: Saudi Arabia ​ Affiliation or activity: Human rights-related activity ​ Submitted by Name: The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights & The Human Rights Foundation ​ Type: NGOs ​ Email: [email protected] ​ Describe the activities of the group/community, civil society or other entity: The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR) is a unique international consortium of parliamentarians, scholars, jurists, human rights defenders, NGOs, and students united in the pursuit of justice, inspired by and anchored in Raoul Wallenberg’s humanitarian legacy – how one person with the compassion to care and the courage to act can confront evil, prevail, and transform history. Our Chair, the Honourable Professor Irwin Cotler, serves as Raif Badawi’s international legal counsel and has power of attorney. The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. HRF unites people in the common cause of defending human rights and promoting liberal democracy. Contact persons of the group/community, civil society or other entity: Irwin Cotler- Raoul
    [Show full text]
  • Arab Secularism's Assisted Suicide
    Arab Secularism’s Assisted Suicide A Brief History of Arab Political Discourse on Religion and the State APRIL 25, 2019 — MARK FARHA The Century Foundation | tcf.org Arab Secularism’s Assisted Suicide A Brief History of Arab Political Discourse on Religion and the State APRIL 25, 2019 — MARK FARHA Few would contest that the Arab world today is still ideological impasse. Relying on a range of Arabic primary struggling to accept, let alone institutionalize, the core pillars sources, it begins with a panoramic historical overview of of secularism and a civic state. In part, this crisis of secularism the usage of the term “madani” (meaning “civil” or “civic”) might be seen as a global phenomenon in light of the among a selection of key liberal and reformist Arab proliferation of populism tinged with communal prejudice. intellectuals, from the nineteenth century to the present.2 But while there is a global component to this problem, there The report also examines recurrent patterns in the use of are also particular regional characteristics. This report seeks “dawlah madaniyyah” as a means of either asserting or to go beyond the current crisis surrounding secularism avoiding an egalitarian, secular state in the present context as a symptom of a broader, universal failure of liberal of post-Arab-uprising states struggling with ideological and democracy and economic inequalities, and to specifically sectarian fragmentation. I explore how the concepts of the link the enfeebled state of secularism in Arab states to the civil state and citizenship have actually been used, in some region’s intellectual and political history since the nineteenth cases, to completely skirt secularism proper.
    [Show full text]
  • Houses Built on Sand Ii
    i Houses built on sand ii Series editors: Simon Mabon, Edward Wastnidge and May Darwich After the Arab Uprisings and the ensuing fragmentation of regime– society relations across the Middle East, identities and geopolitics have become increasingly contested, with serious implications for the ordering of political life at domestic, regional and international levels, best seen in conflicts in Syria and Yemen. The Middle East is the most militarised region in the world, where geopolitical factors remain predominant in shaping political dynamics. Another common feature of the regional landscape is the continued degeneration of communal relations as societal actors retreat into substate identities, while difference becomes increasingly violent, spilling out beyond state borders. The power of religion – and trans- state nature of religious views and linkages – thus provides the means for regional actors (such as Saudi Arabia and Iran) to exert influence over a number of groups across the region and beyond. This series provides space for the engagement with these ideas and the broader political, legal and theological factors to create space for an intellectual reimagining of socio- political life in the Middle East. Originating from the SEPAD project (www.sepad.org.uk), this series facilitates the reimagining of political ideas, identities and organisation across the Middle East, moving beyond the exclusionary and binary forms of identity to reveal the contingent factors that shape and order life across the region. iii Houses built on sand Violence, sectarianism and revolution in the Middle East Simon Mabon Manchester University Press iv Copyright © Simon Mabon 2020 The right of Simon Mabon to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi Arabia
    FREEDOM ON THE NET 2017 Saudi Arabia 2016 2017 Population: 32.3 million Not Not Internet Freedom Status Internet Penetration 2016 (ITU): 73.8 percent Free Free Social Media/ICT Apps Blocked: Yes Obstacles to Access (0-25) 14 14 Political/Social Content Blocked: Yes Limits on Content (0-35) 24 24 Bloggers/ICT Users Arrested: Yes Violations of User Rights (0-40) 34 34 TOTAL* (0-100) 72 72 Press Freedom 2017 Status: Not Free * 0=most free, 100=least free Key Developments: June 2016 – May 2017 • The government outlined plans to significantly increase broadband penetration by 2020 (see Availability and Ease of Access). • An online campaign to end male guardianship caught the attention of the royal court and resulted in gradual reforms (see Digital Activism). • A court increased an activist’s prison sentence for advocating for human rights online from 9 to 11 years on appeal; others were newly detained (see Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities). • Public institutions lost critical data in major cyberattacks, including the civil aviation authority, a chemical company, and the labor ministry (see Technical Attacks). 1 www.freedomonthenet.org Introduction FREEDOM SAUDI ARABIA ON THE NET Obstacles to Access 2017 Introduction Availability and Ease of Access Saudi internet freedom remained restricted in 2017, despite effective digital activism for women’s Restrictions on Connectivity rights. Several human rights defenders were jailed for social media posts. Saudi Arabia unveiled its monumental “Vision 2030” reform and development targets in April 2016. ICT Market The plan included measures to increase competitiveness, foreign direct investment, and non-oil government revenue by 2030.1 The government also announced a National Transformation Program in June 2016 which included several ICT specific targets to be achieved by 2020, including increasing Regulatory Bodies fixed-line broadband penetration in densely populated areas from 44 to 80 percent, and increasing wireless broadband penetration in rural areas from 12 to 70 percent.
    [Show full text]
  • Intimidation and Reprisals for Cooperation with the UN Submission to the Secretary-General
    Intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN Submission to the Secretary-General Report submitted to the Secretary-General in the context of the preparation of the annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights 1 May 2019 www.menarights.org [email protected] of Contents +41 (0) 228108910 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 2 New cases of reprisals ................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 Iraq .......................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1.1 Trends.......................................................................................................... 3 2.1.2 Imad Al Tamimi and Israa Al Dujaili ............................................................... 3 2.2 Riyad Al Karawi ..................................................................................................................... 5 3 Follow-up to previous reports .................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Djibouti ................................................................................................................................... 5 3.2 Egypt ......................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi Arabia
    FREEDOM ON THE NET 2016 Saudi Arabia 2015 2016 Population: 31.5 million Not Not Internet Freedom Status Internet Penetration 2015 (ITU): 70 percent Free Free Social Media/ICT Apps Blocked: Yes Obstacles to Access (0-25) 15 14 Political/Social Content Blocked: Yes Limits on Content (0-35) 24 24 Bloggers/ICT Users Arrested: Yes Violations of User Rights (0-40) 34 34 TOTAL* (0-100) 73 72 Press Freedom 2016 Status: Not Free * 0=most free, 100=least free Key Developments: June 2015 – May 2016 • Internet penetration has risen on the back higher mobile broadband subscriptions (see Availability and Ease of Access). • Authorities throttled Telegram starting in January 2016 in order to prevent users from sharing images and files over the popular messaging app (seeBlocking and Filtering). • The head of Riyadh’s Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice was dismissed after public outrage over a video of committee members harassing a girl outside of a mall (see Digital Activism). • Abdulkareem al-Khadar, Abdelrahman al-Hamid, and Abdulaziz al-Sinedi were respec- tively sentenced to 10, 9 and 8 years in prison for online advocacy against human rights violations. Saudi’s Supreme Court upheld a harsh verdict against liberal blogger Raif Bad- awi in June 2015, who had earlier been sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 public lashes (see Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities). • Mobile phone operators are now required to fingerprint customers when selling new SIM cards, limiting the ability of Saudis to use their phones anonymously (see Surveillance, Privacy, and Anonymity).
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi Arabia
    SAUDI ARABIA TIER 1 | USCIRF-RECOMMENDED COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN (CPC) KEY FINDINGS In 2018, while Saudi Arabia remained a country of particular harass individuals for dissent, blasphemy, and apostasy. The concern, religious freedom conditions trended positive in cer- Saudi government continued to violate the rights of Shi’a Mus- tain areas, including: Saudi senior officials no longer stated lims and non-Muslim minorities, and to advocate a doctrine of that Islam can be the only religion on the Arabian Peninsula; religious intolerance. While it began new construction in the senior leadership met with several Christian leaders, including Shi’a town of Awamiya, the Saudi government restricted the the head of the Anglican Church and a group of American observance of religious holidays by the Shi’a Muslim minority. evangelical leaders, pledging to promote interfaith dialogue After more than 15 years of incremental progress, the Saudi and the flourishing of different faith traditions as part of the government showed backsliding on improvements to its text- kingdom’s domestic reforms; Egyptian Bishop Ava Markos led books that continued to propagate intolerance and advocate the first known publicized Coptic Church Mass in Saudi Arabia’s violence against religious minorities, women, and the lesbian, history; USCIRF was granted the first-ever meeting between gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community. the head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Despite the fact that in 2018 women were given the right to Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) and a U.S. government delega- drive, the religiously justified guardianship system remained tion; religiously motivated restrictions on women driving were in place, adversely affecting the religious freedom of women lifted, and provisions of the guardianship laws treating women in the kingdom.
    [Show full text]
  • Program Occasional Paper Series Summer 2012
    MIDDLE EAST PROGRAM OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES SUMMER 2012 MIDDLE EAST PROGRAM SUMMER OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES 2012 Saudi Arabia’s Race Against Time The Saudi offi- The overwhelming impression from a two- David B. Ottaway, cial from the week visit to the kingdom is that the House Senior Scholar, Ministry of of Saud finds itself in a tight race against time Woodrow Wilson International Interior’s “ideo- to head off a social explosion, made more Center for Scholars and former Bureau logical security” likely by the current Arab Awakening, that Chief, Washington Post, Cairo department was could undermine its legitimacy and stabil- relaxed and ity. Ironically, the threat stems partly from confident. The King Abdullah’s deliberate policy to stimulate government had uprooted scores of secret reform by sending a new generation of Saudis al-Qaeda cells, rounded up 5,700 of its fol- abroad for training in the sciences, technolo- lowers, and deafened Saudi society to its siren gy, and critical thinking—skills that his king- call to jihad to overthrow the ruling al-Saud dom’s own educational system, dominated by royal family. For the kingdom, the threat ultra-conservative Wahhabi religious clerics, from Islamic terrorists had become manage- has failed to provide. able. So, what is the main security concern Thousands of beneficiaries from the King of the Saudi government today? The answer Abdullah Foreign Scholarship Program, came as something of a surprise: the return of underway since 2005, have returned from U.S. 150,000 Saudis who have been sent abroad to colleges and universities to face bleak prospects study, nearly one half of whom are now in the for a job, house, or marriage.
    [Show full text]