Larissa
16th March 2003, 14:06
In Saudi Arabia, opponents of the dictatorship of the ruling family have to watch what they say and how they say it. There is much they cannot say, and especially write, in public. Here is a thoughtful article by Mohammed Al-Mohaissen, a professor of Arabic in Riyadh, and one of the main drafters of the recent pro-reform petition submitted to Crown Prince Abdullah by more than 100 intellectuals and academics within Saudi Arabia:
www.iht.com/articles/89565.html
Al-Mohaissen's focus is Saudi Arabia. One of the many interesting things he says is that Washington has never fostered democracy in the Middle East.
Today, Washington seeks to appropriate the goals and language of grassroots efforts for democracy within Saudi Arabia, making it seem that the democracy movement is being imposed from the outside. He also says that, "for decades, there have been intellectuals and citizens within Saudi Arabia pushing tirelessly and against great odds [read: the ruling family and its American backers] for change." The square brackets are mine.
(From another forum)
www.iht.com/articles/89565.html
Al-Mohaissen's focus is Saudi Arabia. One of the many interesting things he says is that Washington has never fostered democracy in the Middle East.
Today, Washington seeks to appropriate the goals and language of grassroots efforts for democracy within Saudi Arabia, making it seem that the democracy movement is being imposed from the outside. He also says that, "for decades, there have been intellectuals and citizens within Saudi Arabia pushing tirelessly and against great odds [read: the ruling family and its American backers] for change." The square brackets are mine.
(From another forum)