Why Were the Saudi Streets So Quiet? (Because Protest is illegal in Saudi Arabia.)
(I don't know about you, but I needed this reminder.)
Published on Monday, May 22, 2017
by Medea Benjamin
With the worlds media focused on President Trumps visit to Saudi Arabia, its curious that the streets of Riyadh were so empty. Unlike most of Trumps public appearances, there was not a protester in sight.
While Mexicans pour out on the streets to protest Trumps anti-immigrant policies, bashing Trump piñatas and burning U.S. flags, there was nary a Saudi protester chanting Trump: Go home. In this very religious country, no one seemed interested in demonstrating opposition to Trumps derogatory comments about Islam nor his attempts to impose a Muslim ban back home
.
Oh yeah, silly me. I forgot. Protest is illegal in the kingdom. Its also against the law to distort the reputation of the kingdom or break allegiance with the ruler. A 2014 anti-terrorism law treats virtually all free expression as acts of terrorism, including calling for atheist thought; contacting groups or individuals opposed to the Kingdom; and seeking to disrupt national unity by calling for protests. People who dare dissent are publicly flogged, tortured in prison, and sometimes publicly beheaded.
Thanks to U.S. weapons makers and arms deals signed with successive U.S. presidents, the Saudi rulers have more firepower than they could ever need to put down any form of dissent. No wonder the streets of Riyadh were so quiet.
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/05/22/why-were-saudi-streets-so-quiet