Saudi Arabia finances all US colonial policies in Middle East, beyond

Statement - Islamic Human Rights Commission

Saudi Arabia has now become the financers of all US colonial policies in the Middle East and beyond. Not only are they handing over money to finance US wars but they are also financing the USA by buying arms for the specific purpose of getting Muslims to kill Muslims and targeting innocent civilians in Yemen and elsewhere. At the same time Saudi Arabia deliberately ignores and even undermines the cries of Palestinians, Kashmiris and the Rohingya in Myanmar.

The Saudi regime is paying millions to market itself with a new liberal mask but the reality of the oppression of ordinary Saudis is clear. Thousands of political prisoners are rotting away in jail and countless facing execution. The regimes domestic tyranny exposes its hypocrisy and the mask of liberalism for those who want to look beyond the regimes public relations exercise.

At the same time we see the Saudi regime is becoming more aggressive in its efforts to control the Arab League and OIC (which has traditionally had its headquarters in Saudi) claiming that they seek stability and peace; their actions are having complete opposite effect. They are promoting conflict where there should be harmony and tranquillity. The OIC in particular was created to support the Palestinian cause but is now under the influence and leadership of the Saudis who have abandoned the Palestinians and become promoters of the Zionist regime. It warrants the whole of the Muslim world and OIC member states to recognise that to support and liberate Palestine, the OIC must first be liberated from Saudi leadership.

We have to recognise that without holding regimes like Saudi accountable, we will not be able to hold others – like the Zionist regime and oppressive colonial powers – accountable.

Digest

On Sunday last week, the Arab League summit called for an international probe into the “criminal” use of chemical weapons in Syria and condemned what it saw as Iran’s interference in the affairs of other countries. The meeting opened only 24 hours after a barrage of strikes launched by the United States, Britain and France hit targets they said were linked to chemical weapons development in Syria, which was suspended from the league seven years ago.

Leaders at the Arab League summit have failed to discuss the US-led strikes that came as a result of the “criminal” alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar have previously issued statements in support of the action while Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon expressed concern.

On Monday 9 April, Human Rights groups urged French President Emmanuel Macron to pressure visiting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the war in Yemen, warning that Riyadh used French weapons in the conflict. The day after,President Emmanuel Macron defended French weapons sales to the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, but said he was concerned by the humanitarian situation and would host a conference on the issue before the summer.

The same day, a human rights group filed a lawsuit in a Paris court against Saudi Prince Mohammed, accusing him of complicity in torture and inhumane treatment in Yemen.The complaint on behalf of Taha Hussein Mohamed, director of the Legal Center for Rights and Development (LCRD), said the prince,is Saudi Arabia’s defence minister, was responsible for attacks that hit civilians in Yemen.

The same day, a human rights group filed a lawsuit in a Paris court against Saudi Prince Mohammed, accusing him of complicity in torture and inhumane treatment in Yemen. The complaint on behalf of Taha Hussein Mohamed, director of the Legal Center for Rights and Development (LCRD), said the prince, is Saudi Arabia’s defence minister, was responsible for attacks that hit civilians in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia continues to commit widespread violations of basic human rights. The most pervasive violations affect persons in the criminal justice system, women and girls, migrant workers, and religious minorities. Persecution of peaceful dissidents and independent human rights advocates is widespread. The Saudi -led coalition in Yemen has also committed numerous violations of international humanitarian law since it began military operations in March 2015.




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