Saudi Arabia

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

News & Updates

On the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day, Freedom House recognizes the equal rights of women globally and particularly calls upon governments in the Middle East and North Africa, where women experience the lowest levels of fundamental rights, to fulfill their commitments to gender equality.

The decision by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia to block BlackBerry services

Although women in Saudi Arabia can attend law school, they are still unable to represent clients in court.  Freedom House is working with local partners to help build the skills of young women lawyers to prepare them to be effective advocates.  On December 6-10, 2009, Freedom House and the Al Ghazzawi Law Firm conducted a training workshop to provide 18 young women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with practical skills to help them be effective lawyers. Participants learned how to draft contracts, negotiation techniques and leadership skills.

 

Signature Reports

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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