On 23 February 2019, Saudi Arabia appointed its first ever female ambassador, Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud. She will serve as the ambassador to the United States (US). She is a member of the royal family, and has been widely known for her advocacy work around women’s rights in the kingdom. She succeeds Prince[…]
07
Aug
Aug
After a wave of deadly domestic terrorist attacks beginning in 2003, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched a wide-ranging counterterrorism campaign. The government has claimed that this campaign takes steps to address security efforts as well as ideological sources of terrorism. A critical component to this approach is the rehabilitation of offenders in prison through[…]
06
Aug
Aug
In May 2019, the Trump Administration approved a new shipment of arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) valued at $8 billion, as part of an ‘emergency’ sale meant to bolster regional allies and counter regional aggression. By tagging the sales as for an ‘emergency’ the administration is able to avoid Congressional[…]
18
Jul
Jul
The Austrian government is moving to close the Saudi-funded interfaith center, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), in Vienna. On 12 June 2019, Austrian Members of Parliament (MPs) voted on a resolution demanding that the interfaith center be shut down. The measure was part of a larger attempt to[…]
09
Jul
Jul
***On 9 July 2019, Nicki Minaj cancelled her performance in Saudi Arabia in support of women and LGBTQ rights. Despite ongoing and systematic human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, popular foreign musicians continue to perform in the kingdom. While Saudi Arabia’s lifting of the ban on female drivers last year seemed like a step in the[…]
