Monday, August 12, 2013

'Rampant injustice rules Saudi Arabia' - prince defector


RussiaToday RussiaToday






Published on Aug 12, 2013
Saudi Arabia, a major supporter of opposition forces in Syria, has increased crackdown on its own dissenters, with 30,000 activists reportedly in jail. In an exclusive interview to RT a Saudi prince defector explained what the monarchy fears most
*******************************************************

Saudi prince defects: 'Brutality, oppression as govt scared of Arab revolts' (EXCLUSIVE)

Published time: August 12, 2013 11:37
Edited time: August 12, 2013 14:19

Protesters hold pictures of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr during a rally at the coastal town of Qatif, against Sheikh Nimr's arrest July 8, 2012 (Reuters / Reuters / Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Saudi Arabia, a major supporter of opposition forces in Syria, has increased crackdown on its own dissenters, with 30,000 activists reportedly in jail. In an exclusive interview to RT a Saudi prince defector explained what the monarchy fears most.
Saudi Arabia has stepped up arrests and trials of peaceful dissidents, and responded with force to demonstrations by citizens,” Human Rights Watch begins the country’s profile on its website.
Political parties are banned in Saudi Arabia and human rights groups willing to function legally have to go no further than investigating things like corruption or inadequate services. Campaigning for political freedoms is outlawed.
One of such groups, which failed to get its license from the government, the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), was cited by AFP as saying the kingdom was holding around 30,000 political prisoners.
Saudi Prince Khaled Bin Farhan Al-Saud, who spoke to RT from Dusseldorf, Germany, confirmed reports of increased prosecution of anti-government activists and said that it’s exactly what forced him to defect from his family. He accused the monarchy of corruption and silencing all voices of dissent and explained how the Saudi mechanism for suppression functioned.
There is no independent judiciary, as both police and the prosecutor’s office are accountable to the Interior Ministry. This ministry’s officials investigate ‘crimes’ (they call them crimes), related to freedom of speech. So they fabricate evidence, don’t allow people to have attorneys”, the prince told RT Arabic. “Even if a court rules to release such a ‘criminal’, the Ministry of Interior keeps him in prison, even though there is a court order to release him. There have even been killings! Killings! And as for the external opposition, Saudi intelligence forces find these people abroad! There is no safety inside or outside the country.”
Prince Khalid Bin Farhan Al-Saud
Prince Khalid Bin Farhan Al-Saud
The strong wave of oppression is in response to the anti-government forces having grown ever more active. A new opposition group called Saudi Million and claiming independence from any political party was founded in late July. The Saudi youths which mostly constitute the movement say they demand the release of political prisoners and vow to hold regular demonstrations, announcing their dates and locations via Facebook and electronic newspapers.
Human rights violations are driving people on to the streets despite the fear of arrest, according to activist Hala Al-Dosari, who spoke to RT from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
We have issues related to political and civil rights, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. These are the main issues that cause a lot of people to be at risk for just voicing out their opinions or trying to form associations, demonstrate or protest, which is banned by the government.”
The loudest voice of the Saudi opposition at the moment is a person called ‘Saudi Assange’. His Twitter name is @Mujtahidd, he keeps his identity and whereabouts secret and is prolific in online criticism of the ruling family, which has gained him over a million followers.
The regime can destroy your credibility easily and deter people from dealing with you if your identity is public,” Mujtahid wrote to RT’s Lindsay France in an email.
Read More and  See  Full Interview Video Here
*******************************************************


Saudi writer Abdullah Mohammad Al Dawood. (Image from twitter)
Saudi writer Abdullah Mohammad Al Dawood. (Image from twitter)
Saudi writer urges groping of women to make them stay at home
.....
A pigeon flies near the minarets of the Grand Mosque (L) and Mount Al-Noor at Friday prayers during the annual haj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca.(Reuters / Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
A pigeon flies near the minarets of the Grand Mosque (L) and Mount Al-Noor at Friday prayers during the annual haj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca.(Reuters / Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
600 lashes and 7 years: Saudi blogger sentenced for ‘insulting Islam’
.....
AFP Photo / Fayez Nureldine
AFP Photo / Fayez Nureldine
Saudi women activists get jail time for helping starving mother locked in home
.....

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (AFP Photo / Yasser Al-Zayyat)
Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (AFP Photo / Yasser Al-Zayyat)
Kuwaiti teacher given 11-year sentence for Twitter criticism of government
.....


Demonstrators stage a mock beheading to protest the executions in Saudi Arabia (Reuters / Andrew Biraj )
Demonstrators stage a mock beheading to protest the executions in Saudi Arabia (Reuters / Andrew Biraj )

Saudi Arabia executes 7 for juvenile crime despite UN appeal
.....


AFP Photo / Amer Hilabi
AFP Photo / Amer Hilabi

Sharia police state? Saudi husbands can track wives’ travels electronically
*******************************************************
Enhanced by Zemanta

No comments:

Post a Comment

Hello and thank you for visiting my blog. Please share your thoughts and leave a comment :)