Word: saudi
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...example, Freedom House describes Saudi Arabia as one of the world’s “most repressive” societies. Ordinary Saudis have few civil liberties, no religious freedom, no rights to assembly or association, no independent judiciary, and suffer racial and ethnic discrimination, to name but a few everyday problems. The utter repression of Saudi women needs no comment. Freedom House classifies Saudi Arabia as “not free,” all of which suggests a pretty serious oversight in Bush’s policy...
...case it’s not clear, Saudi Arabia is indeed considered part of the democratization program in the Middle East. It’s just that the president’s democratic implementation strategy seems to range from full-scale invasion in Iraq, to a gentle tut-tuting for favorite allies...
...State of the Union address, the president gently urged the Saudis to follow the path of democratic reform: “The government of Saudi Arabia can demonstrate its leadership in the region by expanding the role of its people in determining their future.” Speaking more recently, Bush reiterated the administration’s desire for Saudi democracy in a September speech to the UN, even making passing reference to some minor improvements seen in the last few years. “Some of the changes in the Middle East are happening gradually...
...interview on Nov. 8 with Dr. Ali Alyami, Executive Director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia, a Washington-based NGO, Alyami told me the Saudi people’s false hopes for genuine reform in their country were shattered. “The people will have no voice, only the princes will determine who’s going to be the king. So this puts an end to all of the speculations about King Abdullah being a reformer,” Alyami said...
...part, Alyami still believes in the administration’s democratic program for the Middle East, but says Bush has his hands full with Iraq and Afghanistan: “America is an international power with an interconnected economy, when the administration adds up all the Saudi influence in Washington and elsewhere, it has to stop and think about the consequences of pushing the Saudis to do more than they feel like doing at this time.” So that means waving adieu to Bush’s alleged plans for democratic reform...