Friday 25 July 2008, 09:11 AM (BST)
Please sign in if you wish to submit a vote.
Previous Vote Results
Is Obama's Democratic Win A Positive Step for American Politics?
| Yes | 68 % |
| No | 32 % |
Walead Hamad, Bahrain, Monday 28 April 2008
The Saudi regime today released the blogger who was detained by the authorities – no reason was given for his detention. The detention had led to an outcry, as many accused the regime of attempting to stifle freedom of expression. The blogger, Fouad al-Farhan, had used his blog to highlight the endemic corruption and torture of the Saudi regime.
It is prudent to point out that the Saudi regime claims itself to be Islamic, and a guardian of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina – yet, there is little if anything, Islamic about the workings of the governing body. It is a nation which denies its citizens democracy, a regime which has corruption at nearly all levels of governance, with its multitude of princes using the nation’s oil wealth to buy more personal jet liners and to build private palaces.
The Saudi Arabian regime also exports a violent form of Wahhibism abroad, which has led to several terrorist incidents (and let us not forget that the 9/11 hijackers were mostly Saudi). The greatest fear of the Saudi regime is that its denizens should one day wake up and realize the corruption - and so as a show of force it had imprisoned Fouad al-Farhan.
The blog itself merely highlighted what we all know, that the regime is dictatorial and corrupt. The Saudi authority gave no reason or explanation for the detention, but then again, it didn’t have to.
What is curious, is the response of the leading democracies of the world, which we all hope should lead as a shining example to those like Fouad al-Farhan, who aspire to live within a democracy. We need nations with stature, such as the US, Britain and Australia, to out-rightly condemning these actions. However, many are simply not holding their breath for this to happen any time soon…
As the ordinary person begins to feel more entrapped, more will turn to the internet as a means of dissent against the corrupt Saudi regime. Bloggers will continue blogging, and word will only spread more and more. Democracy and freedom of speech are ideas which can never be extinguished by the yokes of subjugation. Greater nations have yielded to democratic forces, and by no means should Saudi Arabia class itself as an exception.
Please sign in if you wish to make a comment or rate this story.
Comments (3)
Omnia Wasfy ( 2 months ago )
I think that the teachings of Islam are interpreted and applied in an extreme way there. But I’m only against allegations that princes misuse the country’s wealth on buying jetliners and private palaces because K.S.A. is progressing in many aspects & is providing a good standard of living for its citizens. Also, being that firm internally can’t be the basis on concluding that the country is exporting terrorism. Terrorists emerge under different regimes and from all countries.
Walead Hamad ( 2 months ago )
I just personally think that the Saudi regime is pretty much a disgrace. But it's ruling elite practise a very extremist form of wahabism, which does go against the spirit of islam. then again - their entire governance goes against islam... what do you think?
Omnia Wasfy ( 2 months ago )
Yes, holding any person captive without reason is against all kinds of human rights and freedoms.
I'm not with the Saudi regime, nor totally against it. But I don't think that accusing a regime of exporting violence based on the mere fact that the 9/11 attackers were Saudis is accurate. First, they were not all Saudis, and second, Bin Ladin himself is rejected by his own Saudi family.
Comments 1 - 3 of 3