Saudi Arabia

29 million people
17,820 USD GNI (PPP)
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Not Free

News & Updates

Brutal attacks against bloggers, politically motivated surveillance, proactive manipulation of web content, and restrictive laws regulating speech online are among the diverse threats to internet freedom emerging over the past two years, according to a new study released today by Freedom House.

The capability of repressive governments to monitor users of mobile phones and block access to internet content is far beyond levels realized by users and presents significant risks for user privacy and safety, according to a new report released today by Freedom House and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). This is a serious problem in countries that lack the rule of law and where civil liberties are not respected.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of the Interior imposed a ten-year travel ban on human rights defender Sheikh Mikhlif Al-Shammari on April 8, following his release from prison in February 2012. Al-Shammari, who has been an advocate for reform and democratic change in Saudi Arabia, was detained for 20 months for writing content deemed "disturbing to others." It is unacceptable that Saudi Arabia continues to use travel bans as a means of silencing human rights defenders and dissenters. Freedom House calls on the government to immediately lift any travel restrictions against Al-Shammari and other activists.

Freedom House is alarmed by the deportation of Saudi writer Hamza Kashgari from Malaysia after fleeing Saudi Arabia to escape death threats for allegedly insulting the prophet Mohammad on Twitter. Kashgari was detained in Malaysia on February 9 and taken back to Saudi Arabia by Saudi authorities on February 12.

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Special Reports

Worst of the Worst 2011: The World's Most Repressive Societies

Freedom House has prepared this special report entitled Worst of the Worst: The World’s Most Repressive Societies, as a companion to its annual survey on the state of global political rights and civil liberties, Freedom in the World. The special report provides summary country reports, tables, and graphical information on the countries that receive the lowest combined ratings for political rights and civil liberties in Freedom in the World, and whose citizens endure systematic and pervasive human rights violations.

Worst of the Worst 2007

Sudan, North Korea and Uzbekistan are prominent among the most repressive regimes in the world, according to a report released by Freedom House.  The study, “The Worst of the Worst: The World's Most Repressive Societies 2007,” named seventeen countries with the worst records for political rights and civil liberties, and pointed to thirteen countries which have been on the list for five years or more.

Saudi Arabia's Curriculum of Intolerance

Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom released a report analyzing a set of Saudi Ministry of Education textbooks in use during the current academic year in Islamic studies courses for elementary and secondary students. The textbooks promote an ideology of hatred toward people, including Muslims, who do not subscribe to the Wahhabi sect of Islam.

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