<
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/25/the-guardian-view-on-saudi-arabias-repression-the-rebranding-of-riyadh-wont-wash>
"Hosting an Olympics is the “ultimate goal”, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister has
confirmed. Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal was speaking as Anthony Joshua
fought Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk in Jeddah on Sunday – and one day after the
United Nations human rights office denounced the 34-year prison sentence handed
to Salma al-Shehab, a PhD student at Leeds University, for sharing Twitter
messages. It is reportedly the longest known sentence for a women’s rights
activist there.
That the heavyweight title fight overshadowed her case should not surprise us.
The international horror and condemnation at Jamal Khashoggi’s murder at the
Saudi consulate in Istanbul did not last long, despite the CIA concluding that
it was ordered by Mohammed bin Salman; the country’s crown prince and de facto
ruler denies responsibility. Joe Biden vowed to make the country a “pariah”.
But last month he bumped fists with the crown prince, for minimal noticeable
return. Human rights groups warned then that the meeting would embolden the
regime.
According to Riyadh, initiatives such as the new LIV Series golf tour , Olympic
plans and other sporting endeavours are evidence of progress rather than
reputation laundering. But the crown prince’s changes are Potemkin reform,
offering a shiny new city and dance festivals in place of basic rights. When
the government lifted the driving ban for women, it arrested and jailed
activists who had called for it. The message is clear: freedom is at the whim
of the regime. The persecution of campaigners at home and pursuit of dissidents
overseas is well-known. But Ms Shehab was not a well-known dissident, and not
especially vocal. Her case seems designed to shock and chill.
The Saudi national and mother of two young sons was visiting relatives when she
was arrested last year. She has described suffering abuse and harassment behind
bars. She was initially jailed for three years, but the appeals court this
month imposed the draconian new sentence and a 34-year travel ban to follow.
The foreign secretary, Liz Truss, should surely intervene in the case of a
student at a British university whose only crime is to voice and share
legitimate views. But despite pledging to build a “network of liberty”, Ms
Truss could not name a single time that she had challenged a Gulf state about
human rights when questioned by MPs in June. Mr Biden, who supposedly “received
commitments” that the kingdom had taken measures to prevent shocking human
rights abuses in future, should also call for Ms Shehab’s release."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
