Saudi Arabia: The Prince’s Purge
Anti-corruption or Anticipate the corruption?
Saudi Arabia. The desert in the Middle East acclaimed by its cities of opulence, funded by an Eldorado of oil and ruled by royalty.
Saudi Arabia has recently been making waves among international political discussions with its recent policy changes enacted by their Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman (MBS). Although Saudi Arabia is home to a plethora of royals, both kings and princes alike, its political instability and recent changes in policies prove that the kingdom is far from your average fairy-tale.
Being the birthplace of Islam and hub for Human Rights issues, there has been an increasingly prevalent discussion and critique of certain women’s rights affairs.
Women in Saudi Arabia: How’s it Like?
Saudi Arabia has always been widely and internationally criticized for their lack of women’s rights.
The Middle Eastern nation has received international denunciation for being the only remaining country to forbid women to drive. It is because of the kingdom’s deep-rooted, religious following of Islam as well as historically sexist sentiments that propose limitations on women’s rights such as…
- The need to wear conservative clothing (appearing in public without wearing a full-length, black abaya)
- The prohibition of interaction with members of the opposite sex
- The prohibition of getting married, divorced, travelling, getting a job or having elective surgery without permission from their male guardians
Even Sophia, a female robot was given citizenship in Saudi Arabia and had been given freer rights compared to real women in SA. She does not require the consent of a male guardian or need to wear conservative clothing, enraging many women in the kingdom that feel their rights are being pushed aside.
Women in Saudi Arabia: A Work in Progress
But in more recent news, for many women in Saudi Arabia, things are perhaps finally starting to look up.
“We are changing the narrative from Oil as Gold to Humanity as Gold.”
Though they are far from becoming a society that wholly guarantees everyone’s equality in human rights, the kingdom has been making some very recent progress in its development in Women’s rights.
- First women’s basketball tournament was held November 12
- Women will be allowed to drive by June 2018
- Women will be allowed into sports stadiums starting in 2018
“[Allowing Saudi women to drive] is one of the boldest and most dramatic moves that Mohammed bin Salman could make when it comes to international PR. […] I look at this as more than driving — I see myself as more of a human today than yesterday. ”
–al Rashid, Al Nahda Philanthropic Society for Women
The Prince’s Purge: Sweeping the Nation
In speaking of Anti-corruption movements, the Crown Prince MBS has initialized an internal “purge” of the corrupt individuals in Saudi Arabia.
“A moderate and open Islam”
On November 4th, the 32 year young Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia instigated a nation-wide arresting campaign, detaining those with corrupt records.
He stated that he wanted to embark away from extremist thoughts, and that his country should revert to embracing moderate Islam.
Internationally, many including United States POTUS Donald Trump, agree with the Saudi government in that they are heading in the right direction with the strict elimination of corrupt individuals in its state.
All hail the Crown Prince…
But several political experts have actually discovered that MBS’s movement digs deeper than many may think. Many critics held that the prince’s kingdom transformation as a risky way to consolidate his power in Saudi Arabia, especially as medical concerns are arising in regards to his 81-year old father & king, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
An APPEAL to the PUBLIC —
The Prince’s apparent move towards a more “moderate and open Islam” has been increasing his popularity and public image.
Many critics observe MBS’s purge as a transformation that intentionally parallels with the progressive transformation of the public’s sentiments.
The Prince’s recent changes in policies are visibly resonating with the mostly young and unemployed population, rallying with the country’s slow yet paramount shifts in women’s and human rights.
70% of the Saudi Arabian population is under the age of 30
In recent years Saudi Arabia has seen a more modernized & liberalized population, with most of the public already unhappily recognizing the deep-rooted, systemic corruption in their state officials.
An ELIMINATION of RIVALS —
The Saudi Prince’s purge of “corruption” is also seen by political analysts as a pretext of disposing of potential rivals or critics of the throne.
The Prince’s recent rise to power has been markedly unnerving to more experienced and elder members of the ruling Al Saud family, so it would not be too outlandish or unimaginable that he is willing to perform such a risky move, purging the formerly untouchable members of the royal society in the Saudi kingdom.
His purge of his political adversaries was also critiqued as a “reckless”, majorly risky and unadvised move from some of MBS’s advisors, considering the current political instability that over encumbers the kingdom’s international affairs.
In fact, Saudi Arabia’s “anti-corruption” campaigns have been sparking more aggression with Iran, moving even more dangerously close to outright military confrontation with the nation. Not to mention Saudi Arabia’s current conflict with Yemen, which is also not too far off the brink of total crisis and war.
But all we can do for now is wait and see what happens to the Saudi kingdom’s future.
Although the Prince’s policies on women’s rights and anti-corruption are big steps towards a more moderate and progressive Saudi Arabia, it would be all too familiar to discover its deeper, more reprobate purpose.
