From CDHR
September 11, 2007
Crippling Censorship
By Ali Alyami
The Saudi government maintains a severe censorship policy of denying its people the right to know what is being done and carried out in their names. Most Saudis know from one source or another that the name of their country has become synonymous with the financing of extremist groups and schools, suicide bombers and support for governments and groups who oppress their people, especially women and religious minorities. Why then continue its notorious policies of punishing any one or news outlets for reporting what is public knowledge? The answer is because it’s easier for tyrannical regimes to maintain tight control over their peoples’ minds, intellect and ways of thinking. Saudi Arabia remains one of the most censored societies on earth. These Orwellian laws pose real dangers for the Saudi people and the international community. Because of its religious centrality and oil reserves, Saudi Arabia plays major roles in human lives domestically, regionally and globally. The country needs and deserves a better and more enlightened political structure that encourages its citizens to reach out to the people of the world and become contributing members to the well-being of the international community.