radiofree.asia

Author: Martin Chulov Middle East correspondent

  • Rate of executions in Saudi Arabia almost doubles under Mohammed bin Salman

    Last six years among bloodiest in kingdom’s modern history despite push to modernise

    The rate of executions carried out by Saudi Arabia has almost doubled under the rule of the de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman, with the past six years being among the bloodiest in the Kingdom’s modern history, a report has found.

    Rates of capital punishment are at historically high levels, despite a push to modernise with widespread reforms and a semblance of individual liberties. Activist groups say the price of change has been high, with a total crackdown on the crown prince’s political opponents and zero tolerance for dissent.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Protests spread in Iran as President Raisi vows to crack down

    Demonstrations that began with death of Mahsa Amini while detained by morality police pose biggest threat to regime in 13 years

    Iran’s president has vowed to “deal decisively” with protests that are gathering momentum across much of the country one week after the death of a woman in custody who had been detained by the morality police.

    Demonstrations have spread to most of Iran’s 31 provinces and almost all urban centres, pitting anti-government demonstrators against regime forces, including the military, and posing the most serious test to the hardline state’s authority in more than 13 years.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Saudi Arabia’s release of Loujain al-Hathloul an overture to Biden

    Analysis: Mohammed bin Salman views the move as an attempt to engage the new US administration

    As Loujain al-Hathloul marked her first day outside prison in nearly three years, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman, was bracing for a reaction from Washington to what amounts to a peace offering on his part.

    Prince Mohammed views the decision to release the women’s rights activist as an attempt to belatedly engage the new administration, whose strident tone on human rights issues in its early weeks of office has all but conditioned a working relationship with Riyadh on righting the wrongs of the Trump years.

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    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.