Saudi Arabia’s appointment of Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan as the new Grand Mufti is a tell-tale sign of what the Kingdom’s so-called “modern reforms” are really all about. While Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has invested billions to market Saudi Arabia as a modern, progressive country through entertainment, tourism, and international sports, including […]
Saudi Arabia’s increasing prominence in international sports has caused serious concern about the integrity of international sporting organizations and the values they purport to uphold. The latest news that the ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament will take place every year in Saudi Arabia from 2028 is another addition to what many have dubbed a global […]
When Saudi Arabia recently made new labor regulations prohibiting employers from charging domestic workers recruitment or work permit fees, many global commentators welcomed it as a breakthrough. The Saudi Gazette called the action a move toward providing “a decent life and stable work environment” for domestic workers. On paper, it’s a humanitarian milestone. But glance […]
Saudi Arabia’s recent bout of executions, among them child offenders, has again highlighted the regime’s callous contempt for human rights and international law. On October 20, 2025, the kingdom put to death Abdullah al-Derazi, a youth convicted of crimes allegedly committed when he was only 17 years old. This was the 300th in 2025 alone, […]
Saudi Arabia’s new vanity project, the $1.4 billion Qiddiya City Performing Arts Centre, is being hailed as an emblem of contemporary innovation and cultural advancement. Situated on the periphery of the Tuwaiq Mountains and boasting three theatres of international standard and a cantilevered amphitheatre, the centre will be designed to stage more than 200 events […]
Saudi Arabia’s promotion of the Dunes Legends League T20, a new international cricket league with world and regional stars, may seem to be marking sporting development and possibility. But underpinning this glittering sports tale is a deliberate effort to **whitewash human rights abuses, divert attention from authoritarian rule, and redefine global opinion through sportswashing** — […]
In the same week that Saudi Arabia is busy buffing its reputation as next year’s host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of over 23,000 individuals for breaching residency, labor, and border laws. Behind the numbers stands a chilling reality: The Kingdom that wishes to host the […]
Saudi Arabia’s recent action to secure a US defense agreement as regional tensions mount yet again underscores the kingdom’s unfitness to host the FIFA World Cup 2034. Buried beneath the sparkling veneer of modernization and sports diplomacy is a highly militarized regime that only prospers when there is regional turmoil, hidden military pacts, and routine […]
As the lights went down at Boulevard City’s SEF Arena for the launch of Joy Forum 2025, the world saw a dazzling array of international celebrity power up close. Sports stars such as Dana White, Shaquille O’Neal, and Novak Djokovic appeared alongside entertainment industry leaders from Netflix and WWE, with internet sensations like MrBeast receiving […]
The Saudi Ministry of Health’s release stressed that cholesterol-lowering medicines, especially statins, are approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) as well as by international authorities. It asserted that these drugs are safe and effective in the prevention of heart disease and stroke, and that the critics of these medicines are spreading misinformation. […]