Saudi Arabia gone Commie? (or Nazi?)

[yankeedoodle]

Here is an account of the "anti-corruption" campaign in Saudi Arabia that, if anybody were to propose even a mild hint of what is supposedly being done in Saudi Arabia, the screams of COMMUNISM would deafen us.  And, of course, if it was being done to jews, anywhere in the world, the screams of NAZIS would deafen us.

Just look: they are, supposedly, 1) confiscating wealth, 2) nationalizing private ownership (that's what "signed over real estate and shares in their companies to the government" means), and 3) restricting freedom of personal movement.

Very odd, don't you think?  No shouts of COMMIE! or NAZI! or FASCIST!     

Looks like we better keep a close eye on what goes on in Saudi Arabia.


Riyadh used coercion & physical abuse to seize billions in anti-corruption purge, witnesses claim
https://www.rt.com/business/421100-saudi-purge-coercion-abuse/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

Saudi Arabia's so-called anti-corruption campaign saw hundreds of the country's elite arrested about four months ago. Most detainees have been released but witnesses say they are not really free, living in fear and uncertainty.

People familiar with the situation told the New York Times that many of the arrested princes and businessmen were subjected to coercion and physical abuse. They now wear ankle bracelets that track their movements, witnesses said. The families who flew on private jets cannot gain access to their bank accounts, even wives and children have been forbidden to travel.

In the early days of the crackdown, at least 17 detainees were hospitalized due to physical abuse and one later died in custody with neck injuries and other signs of abuse, according to a person who saw the body.

In an email to the New York Times, the Saudi government denied accusations of physical abuse as "absolutely untrue."

Many of the detainees surrendered huge sums of money in order to leave the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh, where the arrested were held. They have also signed over real estate and shares in their companies to the government — all outside of any clear legal process.

"We signed away everything," said a relative of a former detainee, who has been forced to wear a tracking device. "Even the house I am in, I am not sure if it is still mine."

In November, Saudi Arabia launched an anti-corruption purge, arresting hundreds of the country's elite, including billionaires, government ministers, and royal family members.

The government said it raised more than $100 billion from financial settlements made with the detainees in exchange for their freedom. That came mostly in the form of land, stakes in businesses, and other assets rather than cash.

On Sunday, the kingdom announced new anti-corruption departments, claiming that King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed "are keen to eradicate corruption with utmost force and transparency."

[yankeedoodle]

Saudi crown prince is hiding his mother to prevent her from opposing his power grab: NBC News
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/15/saudi-crown-prince-hiding-mother-to-prevent-her-from-opposing-power-grab-nbc-news.html

The young crown prince, a key ally of President Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, has devised a number of explanations to explain his mother's mysterious absence.

U.S. officials tell NBC News they believe the prince moved against his mother because he was worried she'd oppose his plans to seize power and sway King Salman into preventing it.

Trump meets with the crown prince on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman has hidden his mother from seeing his father, King Salman, as the crown prince has worked to consolidate his power, sources told NBC News.

The young prince, a key ally of President Donald Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, has devised a number of explanations to explain his mother's mysterious absence for more than two years, including that she's out of the country's for medical treatment.

The White House announced this week that the president will meet with the crown prince on Tuesday. It said Trump "looks forward to discussing ways to strengthen ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia and to advance our common security and economic priorities."

U.S. officials, though, told NBC they believe that Prince Mohammed moved against his mother to keep her away from the royal family, worried that she would oppose his plans to seize power and sway the king into preventing it.

The 31-year-old prince, known as MBS, drew the spotlight last June after displacing his cousin to become the crown prince of the oil-rich kingdom. Since then, MBS has arrested hundreds of rival businessmen and family members with an ostensible goal of reducing corruption.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, a prominent member of the country's royal family and one of the country's wealthiest investors, was swept up in the widespread anti-corruption campaign in November.