A Saudi prince who is living in exile has spoken out against the suppression of dissident voices and rampant corruption in Saudi Arabia.
In an interview with Russia's RT on Wednesday, Khalid Bin Farhan Al Saud said Saudi Arabia has stepped up its crackdown on protests while supporting the insurgency in Syria.
“There is no independent Judiciary, as both police and the prosecutor’s office are accountable to the Interior Ministry. This ministry’s officials investigate ‘crimes’ (they call them crimes), related to freedom of speech. So they fabricate evidence and don’t allow people to have attorneys”, the prince said in the interview.
“Even if a court rules to release such a ‘criminal’, the Ministry of Interior keeps him in prison, even though there is a court order to release him. There have even been killings! Killings! And as for the external opposition, Saudi intelligence forces find these people abroad! There is no safety inside or outside the country,” he added.
The Saudi prince also criticized Washington for ignoring corruption in the world’s largest oil exporter due to long-term interests.
“The White House certainly does maintain a longstanding alliance with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, cemented by common political, economic and military interests in the Middle East,” said Prince Khaled.
The Saudi prince defected last month from the royal family and is now living in exile in Germany.
Since February 2011, protesters have held demonstrations on an almost regular basis in Saudi Arabia, primarily calling for the release of all political prisoners, freedom of expression and assembly, and an end to widespread discrimination.
However, the demonstrations have turned into protests against the Al Saud regime, especially since November 2011, when security forces killed five protesters and injured many others in the Eastern Province.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Saudi prince slams Riyadh crackdown, corruption
A Saudi prince who is living in exile has spoken out against the suppression of dissident voices and rampant corruption in Saudi Arabia.
In an interview with Russia's RT on Wednesday, Khalid Bin Farhan Al Saud said Saudi Arabia has stepped up its crackdown on protests while supporting the insurgency in Syria.
“There is no independent Judiciary, as both police and the prosecutor’s office are accountable to the Interior Ministry. This ministry’s officials investigate ‘crimes’ (they call them crimes), related to freedom of speech. So they fabricate evidence and don’t allow people to have attorneys”, the prince said in the interview.
“Even if a court rules to release such a ‘criminal’, the Ministry of Interior keeps him in prison, even though there is a court order to release him. There have even been killings! Killings! And as for the external opposition, Saudi intelligence forces find these people abroad! There is no safety inside or outside the country,” he added.
The Saudi prince also criticized Washington for ignoring corruption in the world’s largest oil exporter due to long-term interests.
“The White House certainly does maintain a longstanding alliance with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, cemented by common political, economic and military interests in the Middle East,” said Prince Khaled.
The Saudi prince defected last month from the royal family and is now living in exile in Germany.
Since February 2011, protesters have held demonstrations on an almost regular basis in Saudi Arabia, primarily calling for the release of all political prisoners, freedom of expression and assembly, and an end to widespread discrimination.
However, the demonstrations have turned into protests against the Al Saud regime, especially since November 2011, when security forces killed five protesters and injured many others in the Eastern Province.
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