Saudi Arabia and the United States may have a strategic diplomatic marriage, but it’s time for a separation. The regime in Saudi Arabia is sexist and homophobic. It blatantly disregards human rights.
A recent airstrike from a Saudi Arabia-led coalition crashed down on a funeral home, killing and injuring hundreds of civilians in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. Throughout the past year, Saudi Arabia has been strongly supporting a side of a brutal civil war in Yemen that is displacing millions of civilians and destroying an already-weak economy. As one of Saudi Arabia’s allies, the U.S. is finding itself being dragged into the conflict, evident by a recent arms sale of over $1 billion to Saudi Arabia. Tt is time to demand a change in some of the practices of a nation where many leaders practice Wahhabi ideology and are complicating many conflicts in the Middle East.
The Wahhabi ideology is built upon a fundamentalist and extremely conservative form of Islam that promotes bigotry and limits basic freedoms. Many current practices of Saudi Arabia demonstrate the extreme values that oppose the ideals that America tries to represent. Women are not allowed to complete many tasks without the presence of a male relative, are expected to be veiled at all times, and are generally not allowed to drive. Additionally, barbaric practices such as beheading and stoning are used for punishments for crimes. Not only has Saudi Arabia been practicing some of these extremely traditional values within the country, but they also have been spreading them throughout the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia has been funding madrassas, or religious schools, across the Muslim world that preach more extreme forms of Islam. Madrassas in countries like Pakistan have educated many men who later became members of terrorist groups like the Taliban, according to PBS.
The values preached by many of the top religious leaders in Saudi Arabia are in complete conflict with ideals promoted by America. While a rethinking of its relationship with Saudi Arabia may clash with U.S. strategic interests, the United States cannot continue with this alliance until the nation supports freedom of religion and basic women’s rights, and agrees to human rights ideals accepted by the United Nations.
The conflicts that Saudi Arabia are involved is another reason that America’s unconditional support of the Saudis is not in America’s best interests. Over the last few years, Saudi Arabia and Iran have competed in proxy conflicts in Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen. Saudi Arabia’s involvement in Yemen has led to airstrikes on civilians in markets, hospitals, and funeral homes. While the conflict started as a political fight for power, Saudi and Iranian involvement is fueling sectarianism in the region and turning it into a religious war — further complicating any potential goals of restoration of a government with both sides in Yemen represented. Human rights groups have noted many instances of Saudi-led bombings that violate war law, and thousands of civilians have been killed since Saudi Arabia has gotten involved. As its major ally, the U.S. has sold arms to Saudi Arabia, and is trying to underplay its role.
While Saudi Arabia may be one of the largest and most powerful Middle Eastern nations, the only strategic interests that Saudi Arabia offers is its power and location, since the country is rich from oil and allows the United States to keep an influence in the region. However, Saudi Arabia should be warned that the United States will not tolerate abuses of basic human rights. Civilian deaths in Yemen offer a basic example of the damaging influences that Saudi Arabia has had in the Middle East, and citizens — especially women — deserve more freedoms without fear of punishment. The United States has the power to function without this relationship and should be able to stand up to Saudi Arabia until they offer some signs of change.
