October 25, 2018

End Saudi Arabia’s violence against journalists

tags:	#khashoggi, #Saudi Arabia, #freedom of expression, #freedom of press
located:	Saudi Arabia
by:	Yair Oded

Since his ascent to power in June 2017, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has presented himself as the kingdom’s ‘new face’ who will lead it into a bright future both economically and socially. Alas, over a year into his reign, it becomes clear that Saudi Arabia remains a hub of totalitarianism and oppression.

On October 2, Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was a Saudi national and a critic of the crown prince, was brutally murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Following three weeks of silence, the crown prince has publicly announced today that he regards the murder as a ‘heinous’ crime and that he vows to hold the culprits accountable.

Yet, it has been confirmed by Turkish authorities that two of the men responsible for Khashoggi’s murder were members of bin Salman’s personal security detail.

The crown prince’s record of ‘purging’, jailing, and torturing dissidents, journalists, and anyone whom he perceives to be a threat makes clear the fact that he was personally involved in orchestrating Khashoggi’s murder, and that his current statements are but lies.

Presently, there are 28 journalists and bloggers under arrest in Saudi Arabia, including Raif Badawi, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes, Alaa Brinji, who was sentenced to seven years in prison, and Iman al Nafjan, a blogger and women’s rights activist.

Reporters Without Borders have launched a campaign calling on the crown prince to assume responsibility over Khashoggi’s murder and immediately release the jailed journalists and bloggers.

Please express your solidarity by signing their petition.

It is the responsibility of the international community to do all in its power to pressure bin Salman to end his reign of terror and allow freedom of speech and expression in the Kingdom. His tyranny can no longer be overlooked.