Archive: saudi arabia

1st June 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
In a rare turning-of-tables in the land of the Prophet, a Saudi court has sentenced a cleric to 45 days in prison for defaming a comedy actor. The case arose out of a popular Saudi TV series, Selfie, which satirised ISIS/Daesh. One episode poked fun at religious figures who smash musical… Read more
18th May 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
from a video clip posted on Twitter)" src="/sites/default/files/awamiyah2.jpg" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px; height:254px; width:500px" /> For more than a week clashes have been taking place in Awamiyah, a town in Saudi Arabia's predominantly Shia Eastern province. What began –… Read more
9th May 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
For the last two years a Saudi-led coalition has been waging a war in Yemen to restore the "legitimate" government headed by Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi. But that goal is now in doubt because Hadi's lacklustre performance has opened up a rift between Saudi Arabia and its key ally in the conflict, the… Read more
2nd May 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
The Belgian government has admitted supporting Saudi Arabia's election to a UN body which champions women's rights – and now says it regrets doing so. Meanwhile, numerous other countries supposedly committed to gender equality are refusing to say how they voted. Saudi Arabia has a long history of… Read more
24th April 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
Last week, unnoticed by most of the world's media, Saudi Arabia was elected to the UN's Commission on the Status of Women – with support from at least three EU countries. The commission is described on its website as "the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the… Read more
19th April 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
A decorative concrete structure which had stood for more than 25 years at the entrance to a government building in the Saudi city of Buraydah was abruptly demolished at the weekend because of its alleged connection with Christianity, according to local media.  The structure, which incorporated a… Read more
7th March 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
Click for video" src="/sites/default/files/trans-1.jpg" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px; height:257px; width:500px" /> Saudi Arabia has confirmed the death of at least one transgender Pakistani among 35 who were arrested in Riyadh last week for "imitating the opposite sex". According… Read more
16th February 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
@AmalAlYarisi)" src="/sites/default/files/arhab1.jpg" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px; height:278px; width:500px" /> For the second time in little more than four months the Saudi-led coalition has bombed a funeral gathering in Yemen. An airstrike yesterday hit a house where women had… Read more
13th February 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
demolinari" src="/sites/default/files/aden-vehicle-attack.jpg" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px; height:275px; width:500px" /> Amid escalating tensions within Yemen's "liberated" zone, two rival militias tussled for control of Aden airport at the weekend. Forces commanded by Saleh al-… Read more
3rd February 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
At a bizarre press conference yesterday, the Trump regime's chief spokesman falsely blamed Iran for an attack on an American warship – an attack that never happened.  The story behind this fictitious incident provides an object lesson in how anonymous sources, a gullible reporter, a news… Read more