Riyadh
Saudi Arabia took its first, hesitant steps toward democratic reform this week, hosting a human-rights conference and announcing future city-council elections. Neither reform was whole-hearted, however. Speakers at the human-rights conference insisted that sharia, Islamic law, must take precedence over the U.N.’s universal declaration of human rights. Under Saudi Arabia’s version of sharia, criminals face amputation and flogging, which the U.N. considers torture. The country still lacks freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and any rights for women. And the elections the monarchy has planned for next year cover only half of the seats on city councils, bodies that have little power.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
5 high rating cartoons about Biden's low poll numbersCartoons Artists take on checklists, ice creams, and more
-
A gastronomic tour of the Costa de la LuzThe Week Recommends This Spanish spot has fantastic restaurants "rooted in the region's distinctive produce"
-
Crossword: May 19, 2024The Week's daily crossword
