HLHR.org
Saturday, March 25, 2023
  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
  • TAKE ACTION
  • NEWS
  • RESEARCH
  • IMPACT
  • RESOURCES
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
  • TAKE ACTION
  • NEWS
  • RESEARCH
  • IMPACT
  • RESOURCES
No Result
View All Result
hlhrorg
No Result
View All Result
Home Important

The human rights cost of Biden’s visit to Saudi

Biden failed to keep promise on rights

July 25, 2022
0
The human rights cost of Biden’s visit to Saudi

Human Lives Human Rights: President Joe Biden vowed on the campaign trail to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” over its pervasive human rights abuses. Fast forward two years and he is fist bumping Saudi’s de facto ruler.

With President Biden publicly abandoning his promise of holding Saudi Arabia to account, it’s no surprise their meeting in Jeddah was seen by many as a victory for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

READ ALSO

Authorities in Senegal intensify repression ahead of 2024 election

A glance at the human rights situations since January 2023

Biden’s new stance came at a cost to the moral authority of the US. It is also a devastating blow for independent Saudi dissidents and activists demanding a meaningful say in their country’s future.

Since MBS became the de facto ruler of the Saudi Arabia in 2017, citizens have experienced the worst period of repression in their modern history. Authorities have conducted waves of arrests targeting political dissidents, public intellectuals, and human rights activists.

Practices include holding people at unofficial detention sites where detainees are subjected to torture and mistreatment, prolonged arbitrary detention, asset confiscation without any clear legal process, the use of digital surveillance technology to target peaceful dissidents, and extraterritorial repression – notably the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. All without meaningful accountability.

While Saudi Arabia has a poor track record on free expression, MBS’s reign has eliminated any space for criticism, online or otherwise. Saudi Arabia’s record makes clear that only full-throated praise of the ruler is allowed. Social and women’s rights reforms have been tarnished by the repression. Citizens play no role in the reforms process, instead waiting to see what is decided for them without any possibility of feedback or criticism.

Saudi’s human rights activists were hopeful the Biden era could provide a check on Saudi repression, and the early returns seemed promising. In 2020, Saudi authorities released arbitrarily detained women’s rights activists, including Loujain al-Hathloul, and US citizens, in what was seen as an overture to Biden.

Biden’s decision not to sanction MBS in 2021 alongside dozens of other Saudi officials over human rights abuses undermined his leverage, and some observers believe his visit has helped to rehabilitate the Saudi ruler’s international image.

Human rights activists and organizations expect repression to ramp up again in the coming months. What should Biden do now? What he should have done before the trip – demand that Saudi Arabia release dozens of activists from detention and remove travel bans imposed on others.

Tags: arbitrary detentionasset confiscationBidenBiden saudi TourBin Salmandigital surveillancehuman rightshuman rights activistsJeddahLoujain al-HathloulMBSMiddle East triprepression

Related Posts

Authorities in Senegal intensify repression ahead of 2024 election
Important

Authorities in Senegal intensify repression ahead of 2024 election

March 18, 2023
A glance at the human rights situations since January 2023
Important

A glance at the human rights situations since January 2023

January 20, 2023
MKO lobbying to be removed from the list of terrorist groups
Important

MKO lobbying to be removed from the list of terrorist groups

January 9, 2023
Human Rights violations by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia
RESOURCES

Human Rights violations by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia

January 9, 2023
Media's dual approach to human rights events
Important

Media’s dual approach to human rights events

January 6, 2023
The Swedish government's dual human rights approach
Important

The Swedish government’s dual human rights approach

January 6, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

+ 76 = 81

POPULAR NEWS

Palestinian detainees cross 100 days of boycotting Israeli courts

Palestinian detainees cross 100 days of boycotting Israeli courts

April 15, 2022
Analysis of Taliban offensive and necessary action

Analysis of Taliban offensive and necessary action

April 11, 2022
Taliban rule accompanied by killings and abuses

Taliban rule accompanied by killings and abuses

April 17, 2022
What was behind the death of Qatar's migrant workers?

What was behind the death of Qatar’s migrant workers?

April 21, 2022
Rights groups demand whereabouts of detained Egyptian journalist

Rights groups demand whereabouts of detained Egyptian journalist

April 24, 2022

EDITOR'S PICK

Does world have a double standard towards two different wars?

Does world have a double standard towards two different wars?

March 22, 2022
Concerns over civilian safety arise as Uganda and DRC launch joint military operation

Concerns over civilian safety arise as Uganda and DRC launch joint military operation

December 8, 2021
Edi Rama’s Double Standard in Facing the Pandemic

Edi Rama’s Double Standard in Facing the Pandemic

February 27, 2021
Russian missiles struck a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine, killing 16

Russian missiles struck a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine, killing 16

June 28, 2022
HLHR.org

About HLHR

Ours is a familiar story. A group of friends from all over the world have come together to chase the dream many others have chased before and are religiously working to fulfill; a world where human lives and human rights are treasured.

Recent Posts

  • French police brutal with peaceful protesters
  • France24 TV fires journalist for her use of “pro-Palestine” terminology on social media
  • Arbitrary arrests, teargassing and brutal assault of protesters in Mozambique
  • Authorities in Senegal intensify repression ahead of 2024 election
  • UN envoy warns of grave human rights situation in North Korea

Categories

No Result
View All Result

© 2021 HLHR.ORG All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
  • TAKE ACTION
  • NEWS
  • RESEARCH
  • IMPACT
  • RESOURCES

© 2021 HLHR.ORG All rights reserved.