Human Rights In Saudi Arabia
Bush recently cut a deal with the Saudis, 20 Billion dollars worth of weapon technology and arms. The renewed rhetoric campaign on Iran (despite a less than flattering toasting for Bush by the National Intelligence Estimate) allowed media exposure and public debate to deviate away from speculating on the evident hypocrisy of concluding this deal.
How can Bush advocate freedom and fight terrorism, and cut an arms deal with a country whose Human Rights record is — well — I’ll get into that later.
Saudi Arabia’s law system is Sharia Law. The Universal declaration of human rights, non-existent. Corporal punishment, capital punishment, maiming, sexism, are the day-to-day.
A thief can have his hands amputated as punishment. A women has no right to vote, in fact, the law goes out of its way to explain why:
- Women are much more emotional than men and will, as a result of their emotions, distort their testimony.
- Women do not participate in public life, so they will not be capable of understanding what they observe.
- Women are dominated completely by men, who by the grace of God are deemed superior; therefore, women will give testimony according to what the last man told them.
- Women are forgetful, and their testimony cannot be considered reliable (source)
Sexual freedom is a big no-no, failure to comply will result in anything from imprisonment to execution. Political freedom is restrictive to say the least. Promoting “un-Islamic” values and criticism of the government will land you in a sea of pain. Religious freedom has made some leeway, if you are a Christian, you now have the privilege of prayer within your own home.
How is it, that we can righteously declare war on a country based on it’s human rights record, yet maintain silence on this issue. Worse, we cut lucrative deals and provide them with weapons that will serve in strengthening the structure that binds it.
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