Women’s rights in KSA
Saudi Arabia’s Neom megacity project wants to be known as a modern oasis in the Gulf states, where men and women from around the world can enjoy the type of liberal lifestyle that they are used to. Yet Saudi Arabia’s latest attacks on a women’s rights activist show up this fantasy.
Just as Vogue Arabia, which recently staged an awards ceremony in Neom, fills its pages celebrating the modern lifestyle one might expect there, Saudi Arabia has put a prominent women’s rights activist, Loujain al-Hathloul, on trial secretly, in a specialised criminal court usually reserved for terrorism cases, for the supposed crime of peaceful activism.
As if to underline the issue, Hathloul began her trial, in which she is accused of “undermining the kingdom’s security, stability and national unity”, on International Human Rights Day, 10 December. She had been detained for two years.
Amnesty International has described the specialised criminal court as an “instrument of repression” used to “silence dissent”.
Hathloul’s family have said that she has faced torture and isolation while incarcerated.
The United Nations has condemned the trial. Elizabeth Broderick, the chair of the UN working group on discrimination against women and girls, said: “We are extremely alarmed to hear that Ms al-Hathloul, who has been in detention for more than two years on spurious charges, is now being tried by a specialised terrorism court for exercising her fundamental rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.”
Neom has promised it will have some sort of autonomous legal system – but has not released any details of what this may look like. In any case, why would ordinary Saudi citizens deserve fewer human rights than those coming to visit Neom? The answer, of course, is the regime’s obsession with making money from investors, businesses and tourists.
But what effect will this latest attack on women’s rights, and blatant disregard for natural justice, have on Neom’s image? Already, high profile partners have pulled out of the project, fearful that their wholesome brands will be associated with draconian and sexist repression.
Neom is already suffering a lack of investment over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, which is one of the worst in the world. This latest scandal can only deepen those concerns.
Yet the kingdom’s de facto ruler, crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, appears to have the self-belief that he can continue clamping down on human rights while also marketing Neom as an environment that is friendly to women.
Publicity videos for Neom show women running in sports bras and working alongside men. Perhaps they will be permitted to do so in Neom – but will they be able to voice an opinion without being thrown in jail?
Read more: Activist’s jailing shows women won’t be safe in Neom
