Former prisoners have described being held in secret detention facilities and brutally tortured by security officials. The Saudi government consistently resorts to collectively punishing families of activists, critics, and perceived political opponents, and has arbitrarily banned several thousand Saudis from traveling.
In turn, the Saudi government constantly monitors social media and the Internet , utilizing spyware and online trolls to silence dissent and drown out criticism. This combination of rampant abuses and constant surveillance creates a state where no Saudi feels entirely safe. Recent policies have placed a heavier burden on less fortunate Saudis while also distorting the economy and sapping a once thriving private sector of its autonomy.
The government under King Salman has moved aggressively to destroy the wealth of the country's top business leaders, most notably during the November Purge , when it detained of the wealthiest and most influential Saudis, from business tycoons to princes, in the Ritz Carleton without due process, and then coerced, beat, and tortured them into handing over their assets. Under the control of MBS, the Saudi government has distorted the country's economy by unduly influencing its foreign investments and trade, and pursuing massively expensive vanity projects as part of Vision , including building a mega-city in the desert paid for by Saudi citizens.
Capital outflows by wealthy Saudis that no longer trust the government also remain high, while limited foreign direct investment suggests that investors have little confidence in the Saudi government. With MBS acting as Minister of Defense, the Saudi government engaged in reckless military adventurism that has destabilized the region and made Saudis less safe.
The Saudi government's war in Yemen has cost thousands of civilians their lives and contributed to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. It also has been a failure , as despite a huge military advantage, the conflict remains in a stalemate. Now, Houthi forces target Saudi cities and infrastructure. Fighting this war also cost the Saudi government billions of dollars, money that certainly could have been used more productively.
Saudi Arabia also has played a significant role in supporting authoritarian rulers against popular movements seeking democratic reforms in the Arab world. Discover Saudi. Discover a different world.
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