Prominent journalists and influential bloggers are detained in a fresh crackdown on rebels in Saudi Arabia
The London based ALQST, a human rights organisation that documents and promotes human rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has said that Saudi Arabia has detained 8 influential bloggers and journalists in a fresh crackdown on rebels in the country.
People were taken from their homes in the capital city of Riyadh and the Red Sea Port City of Jeddah last week by police which was dressed as civilians. The arrests are a part of 2-year crackdown on free expression in the kingdom. These latest detentions come as Saudi officials attempt to repair the kingdom’s image after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year triggered Riyadh’s worst diplomatic crisis in years.
Jamal Khashoggi was a Saudi Arabian rebel, author, columnist for ‘The Washington Post’ and a General Manager and Editor-In-Chief of Al-Arab News Channel. He was assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018 by agents of the Saudi Government after they had allegedly used Israeli spyware to hack his cell phone. Media reports say his body was dismembered. To this day, his remains have not been found. His murder drew worldwide anger.
Speaking to a news portal, the Founder of ALQST and Former Member of Royal Saudi Air Force – Yahya Assiri, said, “Some people may be asking why these arrests are taking place now, but in truth they reflect a harsh crackdown on Saudi civil society that has been ongoing for years.”
He further added, “Like the dozens of clerics arrested in September 2017, the women’s rights advocates arrested in the summer of 2018, and the 14 activists arrested in April 2019 – these writers arrested over the past few days are the latest civil society members to be targeted.”
As per ALQST, the prominent writers and journalists who are detained include Bader Al-Rashed, Sulaiman Al-Saikhan Al-Nasser, Waad Al-Mohaya, Musab Fouad Al-Abdulkarim, Abdul Majid al-Balawi, Abdulaziz Alehis, Abdulrahman Monthly and Fouad Al-Farhan. These detained people are not frontline activists. Some are intellectuals who have published articles or appeared on television, while others are businesspeople.
It is to be noted that Riyadh has denied having any political prisoner. But the Senior Officials have said that watching activists, and potentially detaining them, is needed to maintain social stability.
The move gains significance as it comes after 2 days of Saudi Arabia taking over the G20 Presidency for a year. The decision was made during the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs – Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud to Japan. It is to be noted that Japan, which headed the G20 this year, was the kingdom’s 2nd largest export market last year at U.S. $ 33 billion.
G20 is an international forum for the Governments and Central Bank Governors from 19 countries and the European Union (EU). It was founded in 1999 to discuss policy pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability. The member countries include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom (U.K.) and the U.S.
Saudi Arabia is finding it difficult to overcome intense international criticism over its human rights record. In 2018, more than a dozen women’s rights activists were arrested when Riyadh lifted a ban on car driving for women. In April 2019, 8 people, including 2 United States (U.S.) citizens, were also arrested for supporting the detained women.
For the records, public protests, political parties and labour unions are banned in Saudi Arabia. Besides, media also functions in a controlled environment. However, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia – Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud has eased social restrictions in the country, allowing mixed-gender concerts and sporting extravaganzas as he seeks to open up the country to foreign tourists.
