On Legitimate Dissent

I will believe that true reform is taking place in Saudi Arabia only when writers and journalists are able to freely criticize the ruling family. For the time being, press is only allowed to report on washed-up half-truths about the Al-Saud family. Other than praise for the royal family’s donations to hospitals and orphanages or reports about their daily visits and speeches, newspapers are not permitted to disapprove of or scrutinize any action taken by any member of the family.  My question is: If you are doing it right, then what are you afraid of? And if not, then, damn it, you should learn how to listen to your own people.

This rant is in response to the latest government crackdown on a dissenting view coming from Mohsen Al Awajy, an Islamic activist and a known figure who runs an Arabic internet forum called: Al Wasatyah (the middle ground). Al Awaji published an article on his website criticizing the royal family’s so-called closeness to the liberal agenda (yah right!) and the government deemed his action unacceptable.

Even though I don’t believe that there is anything “middle” about Al-Awajy’s viewpoints or line of thinking and I am in disagreement with the contents of the article that got him in trouble, I believe that his arrest is intolerable. The idea that it is unthinkable for Saudi Arabian citizens to publicly verbalize what’s on their minds within their own country shouldn’t simply fly anymore.

Link: Al Awajy’s Article in Arabic.