British newspaper: Saudis prepared bags to leave Kingdom at any moment

Yamanyoon

In Saudi Arabia, social restrictions are being more tolerant at a time when any margin of political dissent has been strictly controlled. This has exacerbated a climate of fear among bloggers, journalists and activists, despite their praise of the Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman and his economic and social reforms.

This was reported in The British Financial Times report, whereas one activist was quoted as saying that the situation is very bad and that fear is so common that they refused to communicate with each other, adding that they told those who had contact with them that they have gotten their travel bags in preparation for leaving the Kingdom at any time.

The arrest of more than a dozen activists to allow women to drive last week has shocked and confused many, only a few weeks before the formal lifting of the ban on June 24.

The arrest of women and men involved in campaigning for these positive developments is confusing and contrasts with the easing of restrictions on women’s activities in Saudi Arabia over the past months, including the upcoming lifting of the ban on driving, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokeswoman Liz Throssell said this week.

Some activists interpreted the arrest of women as not wanting to encourage the idea that their decision to lift the ban on women driving was the result of women’s campaigns to demand a lifting of the ban.

However, some analysts linked to the Saudi government said the arrest of the women came to appease conservative powers whose power was weakened after Prince Mohammed bin Salman strengthened his authority and vowed to work for a more tolerant religious society. The government denied the analysts’ interpretation.