From CDHR
February 21, 2008
Less than Human Because they are Dark or Abeed
By Ali Alyami
Saudis and their apologists in Western universities and public relations suites are quick to point fingers at others who discriminate against people because of color, religion, social status or ethnicity. Yet there are few places on earth where black people have less rights and respect than in Saudi Arabia. Historically, many black people were brought to Arabia as slaves. The ruling family was among the biggest slave owners in the Arab world. Former King Faisal decreed slave emancipation in the early 1960s, but only on paper.
Many princes and princesses kept their slaves, as many of them still have black people to clean and maintain the palaces, cook, and select their favorite wardrobes for them when they decide to get dressed or go to bed. Discrimination against black people, whether they are Saudi nationals or emigrants, spreads through every community, class and corner of the country. It is virtually unheard of for a black man to marry a non-black Saudi.
Due to its limited resources, CDHR has not worked on this important issue as much as it should, but there are many social, political, religious and economic problems that keep this small center over-worked as it is. The Saudis have many challenging problems to deal with and solve and nothing is impossible to do, but the proper institutions have to be in place to solve these problems and move the country forward, because the alternative could be costly.