News Releases from CDHR
July 18, 2007 LA Times: “Transform Saudi Institutions”
The Times’ piece is glaring proof that the Saudi ruling princes and their ostensible enemy, Osama bin Laden, have identical objectives in Iraq: no democracy, no majority rule, no women’s or minority rights and, above all, very limited oil production, which could bring prices down and undermine the Saudi monopoly. Read More
July 3, 2007 Philadelphia Bulletin: “Sitting Down With a Saudi Dissident”
On first impression, Dr. Ali Hassan Alyami appears to be more of an anti-hero. He is short and wears glasses, but his heart is brave and his mind is sharp. He has taken on the Saudi Arabian regime, with all its resources, in order to bring democracy and human rights to his native desert kingdom. Alyami was recently honored by the Endowment for Middle East Truth… Read More
Saudi Arabia Should Ensure Detainees’ Rights
Saudi Arabia should disclose the charges facing ten men recently arrested for “helping terrorism” and ensure the men are protected from torture or other ill-treatment, the Center for Democracy and Human Rights said today in a letter to Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. Read More
Iraq Study Group Report Highlights Saudi Inaction
The Iraq Study group released its report in Dec. 2006, detailing its recommendations to the Bush administration on how best to proceed with the war in Iraq. A key aspect of these recommendations was the Group’s determination that regional diplomacy will be paramount if a stable and permanent solution is to be found to the ongoing sectarian strife. The role Saudi Arabia is to play in any such solution was given much thought in the report, and the findings about the Saudi role in the Iraq conflict were revealing in several respects. Read More…
Saudi Arabia Blocks Promised Access to Prisons
When a delegation from Human Rights Watch (HRW) traveled to Saudi Arabia in December 2006, the delegates were told prior to their trip that they would have access to the country’s numerous prison facilities. However, when the delegates arrived in Saudi Arabia, they were denied access and told that they couldn’t speak with any prisoners because the guards were the only ones who could authorize such visits. This should not have come as a surprise to anyone who knows anything about Saudi methods. Arbitrary arrests, interrogations and verdicts based on the moods of Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif and religious judges are commonplace. Read More…
Turki al-Faisal’s Intrigues
Causing a storm of speculation, allegations and confusing reports, Turki al-Faisal suddenly and unexpectedly resigned from his high profile position as Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. in mid-December. Contrary to the usual process of the Saudi ruling dynasty, where officials often learn of their dismissal through the media, Turki al-Faisal told the Washington Post he was leaving his position to spend time with his family. An examination of his relationship with the royal family raises questions about the real reasons for his resignation and reveals the dysfunction of the Saudi system. Read More…
Saudis thwarted Seven “Terrorists” Cells
The unearthing of what seems to be seven cells (136 people) in Saudi Arabia during the last three months, and killing of two Saudi security personal by men who wanted to free their Al-Qaeda comrades from “Ruwais prison in Jeddah” on December 7, is sobering proof that the stability of the Saudi state remains elusive at best. Read More…
CDHR Commends the Spanish Minister of Justice
The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (CDHR), commends the Spanish Minister of Justice, Mr. Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, for taking a stand against gender discrimination in Saudi Arabia. Read More…
Saudi Women in the Media
Saudi women are routinely discriminated against, marginalized and not considered for advancement within their profession. In her recent article, “Empowering Women in Saudi Media,” (Arab News, January 6, 2007), Saudi journalist Maha Akeel discusses the importance of empowering women who work in the media. Read More…
Faulting the Rape Victim
There can be no greater failure by a system of justice than to punish the victim of a crime. Such a failure does much more than bring injustice to the individual who should be receiving it; it renders totally impotent and irrelevant the system that allowed it. This is so because in order for such a tragedy to come about, the system in question must be based on fundamentally flawed views of morality and criminality. Such is the case with the Saudi system of justice. Read More…
Oppression of Women is Entrenched in the Saudi system
Marginalization of, discrimination against and contemptuous attitude toward Saudi women are entrenched in the Saudi royal family’s political and socialization process, upbringing and culture. The highly praised King Abdul Aziz, father and grandfather to the current rulers, used to brag to his British confidant and advisor St. John Philby about the fact that he could not remember how many women he had married and could harldy remember any of their names. Read More…
In Saudi Arabia, Divorce can have Shocking Aspects
Forced marriages, marriages between family members and those of radically different ages, and chauvinist tribal traditions enforced by a combination of austere political and arbitrary religious judicial systems are taking a high toll on Saudi society, especially its women. Read More…