Saudi Executions Hit Record Number under ‘Reformist Prince’

THE TELEGRAPH: Rise in capital punishment under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite pledge to cut down on the death penalty

Saudi Arabia has reached a record high for executions despite pledges to cut down the death penalty.

There have been some 208 deaths so far in 2024, eclipsing the 2022 record of 196, 81 in a single day.

The executions have been carried out under reformist Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has overseen at least 1,447 executions carried out since he was made Crown Prince to his elderly father, Salman, in 2015.

It comes as on October 9, UN member states will vote on whether to allow Saudi Arabia a seat on the Human Rights Council.

Reforms made in the kingdom include allowing women to drive and bringing in some of the world’s top names in sport and entertainment.

However, the rise in capital punishment continues, with 32 in September alone, and 41 in August, the 2024 monthly high so far, despite a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in 2020. » | Melanie Swan | Sunday, October 6, 2024

Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's Controversial Prince | Full Documentary in English

Aug 20, 2024 | This documentary offers an in-depth look at Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. It examines his rise to power, his ambitious Vision 2030 plan to modernize the Saudi economy, and his controversial actions on both the domestic and international fronts.

Despite accusations of human rights abuses, political repression, and a costly war in Yemen, MBS is presented as a key figure shaping Saudi Arabia’s future and its place in the global order.

The film highlights the complex interplay between his efforts to reform and modernize the kingdom while maintaining tight control and confronting regional threats, particularly from Iran.


Nb: The subtitles can be changed. Several languages are available. – Mark

Is the Saudi Crown Prince an Ex-Muslim Atheist?

Streamed live on Jan 29, 2024 | Did Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman leave Islam?

Saudi’s MBS Welcomes Putin with Smiles & Handshake | Russia’s Bid to Checkmate US In Middle East?

Dec 7, 2023 | Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held bilateral talks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on December 6. Putin said "nothing can prevent the development of our friendly relations" as he makes a rare trip abroad seeking to bolster Russia's influence in the Middle East. MBS also said that cooperation between the two countries had a "positive impact on many issues" in the Middle East. Before Saudi Arabia's visit, Putin made a trip to the UAE, where he met President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"He's Very Ambitious" - Can Saudi Crown Prince MBS Help Stabilize the Middle East?

Nov 19, 2023 | Patrick Bet-David and the Crown Prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, discuss the role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in fostering stability in the Middle East.

Arab League Holds Summit: Regional Leaders Gather in Riyadh to Discuss War

Nov 11, 2023 | The summit in Riyadh has started, with the Saudi crown prince delivering his opening remarks.

Qatar’s emir condemns silence on Gaza »

Saudi Arabia Warns U.S.: Israeli Invasion of Gaza Could Be Catastrophic

THE NEW YORK TIMES: In discussions with their American counterparts, Saudi officials have framed a ground war as a potentially devastating blow to stability in the Middle East.

Saudi officials have firmly warned the United States in recent days that an Israeli ground incursion into Gaza could be catastrophic for the Middle East.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut and a member of the Armed Services Committee, was one of 10 senators who met last weekend with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

“The Saudi leadership was hopeful that a ground operation could be avoided for reasons of stability as well as the loss of life,” Mr. Blumenthal told The New York Times on Thursday. Saudi officials warned it would be “extremely harmful,” he said.

Senior Saudi officials have delivered even more forceful exhortations to their American counterparts in multiple conversations, raising their concerns that a ground invasion could turn into a disaster for the entire region, according to one Saudi official and a second person with knowledge of the discussions. » | Kate Kelly, Vivian Nereim, Mark Mazzetti and Edward Wong | Kate Kelly and Vivian Nereim reported from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Mark Mazzetti and Edward Wong reported from Washington. | Friday, October 27, 2023

Biden Accused of Betrayal of Khashoggi over Push to Deepen Saudi Ties

GUARDIAN INTERNATIONAL: Activists and Democrats condemn rapprochement – aimed at heading off China – with ‘autocratic, sociopathic government’

Biden with the crown prince in Jeddah last summer. Analysts said ‘realpolitik’ had driven Washington to deepen ties with the Saudis. Photograph: Balkis Press/Abaca/Rex/Shutterstock
Joe Biden is facing accusations of betraying a pre-election promise to re-evaluate ties with Saudi Arabia over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in favour of pursuing a rapprochement with the kingdom aimed at repelling a challenge from China to US primacy in the Middle East.

The charge, from human rights campaigners and some Democrats, follows the fifth anniversary of Khashoggi’s death at the hands of Saudi regime agents and comes amid mounting criticism of a proposed new defence treaty between Washington and Riyadh that could result in Saudi Arabia granting official recognition to Israel.

Biden took office initially intending to downplay the traditional US role in the Middle East, a policy consistent with holding Saudi Arabia at arm’s length following the outcry that greeted Khashoggi’s murder.

But the president has since performed a volte-face by saying on a visit to the region that the US would “remain an active, engaged partner” and adding: “We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia, or Iran.” » | Robert Tait in Washington | Saturday, October 7, 2023

Khashoggi was killed five years ago. Thanks to Trump and Biden, Saudi Arabia is stronger than ever: After the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the US vowed to hold Saudi Arabia accountable. Biden has done the opposite »

Saudi Crown Prince Says Deal with Israel Is Closer ‘Every Day’

Sep 21, 2023 | Saudi Arabia is getting closer “every day” to a landmark deal normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said. Yousef Gamal El-Din reports on Bloomberg Television.

Biden Praises India's Modi and Saudi Arabia's MBS at G20 Summit

Sep 9, 2023 | President Biden speaks at a G20 Summit panel on the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Receives Ceremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Sep 11, 2023 | Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was welcomed by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince MBS received a Guard of Honour from the Indian Tri-Services. On September 09, Al Saud landed in India for the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

Rishi Sunak Accused of 'Rolling Out Red Carpet' as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to Visit UK

SKY NEWS: Sources have told Sky News the pair could meet in the autumn as the UK seeks to strengthen its ties with the oil-rich nation.

Rishi Sunak met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G20 summit in Bali last November
Rishi Sunak has been accused of "rolling out the red carpet" for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman just five years after the murder of a US-based journalist caused outrage around the world.

Sources have told Sky News that the crown prince has been invited to visit the UK and that the meeting will take place in the autumn.

Prince Mohammed, also known as MBS, was accused of ordering the assassination of the Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018 - a charge he has denied and blamed on rogue agents.

The scheduled visit will be his first to Britain since the murder, which was widely condemned and saw him shunned on the world stage.

A Downing Street spokesperson declined to comment on reports of the meeting with the Saudi leader when approached by Sky News, while a source said there was currently "no date in the diary". » | Alexandra Rogers | Thursday, August 17, 2023

Rishi Sunak and Saudi crown prince hope to meet ‘at earliest opportunity’: Leaders discuss plans to ‘progress UK-Saudi cooperation’ amid reports that Mohammed bin Salman has been invited to UK this autumn »

Ukraine "Peace Plan" Talks Kick Off in Saudi Arabia | DW News

Aug 5, 2023 | Officials from about 30 countries have been invited to participate in peace talks for Ukraine in the Saudi port city of Jeddah on August 5 and 6. They include three-fifths of the BRICS countries — Brazil, India and South Africa — as well as other nations in the Global South, such as Indonesia, Mexico, Zambia and Egypt. The governments of the United Kingdom and Poland, as well as representatives of the European Union have also confirmed their attendance. Russia has not been invited.

Talks begin in Saudi Arabia on how to end Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv seeks support of publicly neutral countries as China sends envoy and Moscow says it will ‘keep an eye’ on meeting »

Saudi Arabia Faces Claims of ‘Chefwashing’ as It Scrambles to Become a Fine Dining Hub

THE TELEGRAPH: Efforts to attract the world’s top chefs are overshadowed by a disturbing human rights crackdown

Celebrity chefs such as Wolfgang Puck and Jason Atherton have opened or announced plans to open restaurants in the Kingdom CREDIT: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images North America
Saudi Arabia’s tightening grip on the world of international sport over recent years is well documented – but it is not just footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo that are being lured to the once-hermetic kingdom.

The country is quickly establishing a name for itself as a high-end food and drink hub as it pushes to reshape its image and economy.

Celebrity chefs such as Wolfgang Puck and Jason Atherton, as well as big brands from London such as Scott’s of Mayfair, Sexy Fish, and Gymkhana, are just a few of those who have opened or announced plans to open restaurants in the country.

Yet as Saudi Arabia’s restaurant industry explodes, campaign groups warn the rapid influx of international chefs and restaurateurs could be used by the Kingdom to distract from its poor record on human rights.

“For years it’s been clear the Saudi authorities were willing to spend significant sums of money to sportswash the country’s appalling human rights record – and the gambit here seems to be that the glitzier end of the international catering business can achieve the same thing,” says, Peter Frankental, UK economic affairs director at Amnesty International.

…

Now, the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman al Saud – or MBS – has opened the country’s deep pockets to lure the world’s biggest chefs and restaurateurs, offering huge financial incentives to open up. » | Daniel Woolfson | Friday, July 7, 2023

UK Invites Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Visit

THE GUARDIAN: Saudi heir’s official visit would be first since he was accused of being behind killing of Jamal Khashoggi

Prince Mohammed visiting Paris last month, where he attended a climate finance summit. Photograph: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images
The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has been invited to the UK on an official visit in late autumn, the first such visit by the heir to the Saudi throne since he was accused of masterminding the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post columnist and dissident.

Numerous UK ministers have been to Saudi Arabia in the interim, and senior Saudi ministers have also come to the UK, including the foreign minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

Prince Mohammed also spent nearly a week in Paris last month meeting the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and attending a climate finance summit.

News of the UK visit, first reported by the Financial Times, comes as Saudi Arabia tries to end the war in Yemen, and has opened up diplomatic relations with Iran. The US is seeking to persuade Saudi Arabia also to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel, but Riyadh, unlike its Gulf Arab allies the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, is resisting until there is progress on the Palestinian issue. » | Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic editor | Friday, July 14, 2023

Rishi Sunak 'invites Mohammad bin Salman to visit UK': The Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, would be visiting for the first time since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi »

Saudi Crown Prince on THE LINE

Jun 27, 2023 | Saudi Arabia will continue to prove wrong doubters who do not think the Kingdom’s megaprojects, including THE LINE in NEOM, can be built, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says.

Poverty, Climate, Regional Stability on Agenda as Saudi Crown Prince Visits France

Jun 16, 2023 | Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris as part of an official visit, during which he will also participate in a global financing summit aimed at fighting poverty and climate change.

From ‘Pariah’ to Partner, Saudi Leader Defies Threats to Isolate Him

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly leveraged Saudi Arabia’s wealth and influence to overcome international condemnation of the kingdom’s human rights violations.

President Biden vowed during his quest for the White House to make the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, a “pariah” over the killing and dismemberment of a dissident. He threatened the prince again last fall with “consequences” for defying American wishes on oil policy.

Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator, called Prince Mohammed, the oil-rich kingdom’s de facto ruler, a “wrecking ball” who could “never be a leader on the world stage.” And Jay Monahan, the head of golf’s prestigious PGA Tour, suggested that players who joined a rival Saudi-backed league betrayed the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — carried out by hijackers who were mostly Saudi citizens.

Now, their words ring hollow. » | Ben Hubbard, Reporting from Istanbul | Saturday, June 10, 2023

US-Saudi Relations: Secretary of State Meets Saudi Crown Prince

Jun 7, 2023 | US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ahead of a meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers in Saudi Arabia. The US State Department says they had 'candid' discussions that included human rights concerns and ending the war in Yemen. Ties between Washington and Riyadh have been strained in recent years.

What's behind China's Focus on the Arab World? | DW News

Dec 9, 2022 | Chinese President Xi Jinping has met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on a "pioneering trip" to "open a new era of China's relations with the Arab world' - in Xi's own words. The visit is Xi's first to the kingdom in six years. The two countries affirmed their ties and signed a series of strategic deals - including one with tech giant Huawei. The Chinese leader is expected to meet more Gulf oil producers later.

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