Saudi Arabia Has Blood on Its Hands

Next Friday, Saudi prisoner Raif Badawi could be lashed 50 times in public, only to then be put back behind bars, where he will remain for another 10 years.

His crime was creating a blog to discuss religion. At least he will not be beheaded. No less than 17 people were beheaded in Saudi Arabia with swords in August for “witchcraft,” selling drugs, and other offenses.

Despite everything, the country is participating in the multifaceted coalition fighting the Islamic State, which in its own way, is slaughtering infidels in the name of Allah. This strange alliance illustrates the limits and dangers of American realpolitik.

Admittedly, sometimes we must get our hands dirty in the name of damage control. However, the power of the American police is in decline, and the conflicts are becoming more complex, such that it is difficult to know if the situation is improving or worsening. The game of American alliances is starting to look like a wavering tower of cards.

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It is better for the coalition fighting the Islamic State group to include Arab countries, so as not to give the impression that this is a war against Muslims. Equally, it is important that Saudi Arabia remain a partner, in order to retain the ability to influence it.

Of course, this is not what motivates relations between Americans and Saudis. Since 1945, their relations have been explained by quite a simple exchange: oil versus security, with lucrative military contracts. Additionally, they have common enemies, Iran and Russia, whom they fought indirectly during the war in Syria and with the drop in the price of oil.

During Obama’s visit to Riyadh last March, it was this conflict in particular that was discussed, as well as the nuclear negotiations with Iran. However, he dared not speak to King Abdullah about human rights.

Mr. Obama preferred to encourage those who are at the forefront of this daily battle. At the end of his visit, he presented the “International Women of Courage Award” to activist Maha al-Muneef.

So, perhaps, you could say that the situation is improving in Saudi Arabia. There have been slow but sure improvements over the last 10 years. At the same time, however, religious freedom has declined in the country. The fight against terrorism, in which the Islamic monarchy claims to participate, has been used as a pretext. According to a recent Saudi law, atheism is now considered a form of terrorism.

Saudi Arabia also has a toxic influence beyond its own borders by feeding the two drivers of terrorism: ideas and money. In 2010, WikiLeaks received a lead revealing that the Saudi regime refuses to block the funding of terrorist groups on its territory.

Furthermore, it encourages Wahhabism, the most obscurantist and violent form of Sunni Islam. The regime oppresses its people with its religious police, which has been subtly criticized by Raif Badawi. This medieval police model has now been copied elsewhere by the Islamic State group in Syria.