"An attack on the Arab identity. What a disgusting and racist cover of the 'Economist'. It is disturbing to think that there are people who agreed to put this on the cover of the magazine. Each of you should be ashamed," responded Radha Al-Mohana, a researcher and writer from The Bay who lives in Berlin, following the cover of the British magazine that was published a few days ago.
The cover of "The Economist" featured an extensive profile article on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which portrayed him in a rather negative light.
But many in the Arab world actually came out against the graphic design of the cover, which presented the back of Bin Salman covered with a kaffiyeh, with the aqal being used as the fuse of a bomb.
An attack on Arab visual identity.
What an abhorrently disgusting and racist cover from @TheEconomist.
It's disturbing to think that there are people who have agreed on putting this on the cover.
Shame on every single one of you.
pic.twitter.com/EMfxwJKhpX
— Ghada AlMuhanna Ghada AlMuhanna (@GAbalkhail) July 31, 2022
Among other things, anonymous acquaintances were quoted as saying that bin Salman was a rejected child who was nicknamed "Little Saddam", and was subject to teasing because he was the son of a Bedouin woman.
It was also reported in the article that Bin Salman allegedly used to lash out at his employees, and even locked one of his ministers in the bathroom for ten hours.
Following this, it is claimed that the minister appeared on television after the incident and praised the wisdom of the Saudi crown prince.
Other anonymous interviewees said that once, during an argument with his mother, he shot at the ceiling.
"The negativity is well-known, and this is certainly the case of Saudi Arabia in the media. But journalists who are interested in their credibility and that of their employers, may want to note to themselves that following the massive changes that the kingdom has undergone in recent years - there are disgruntled elements in the elite, whose credibility should be taken with a grain of salt before believing the stories that may tell," said the Saudi commentator Ali Shihabi, who is involved in the project of the city of the future Nayom in Saudi Arabia.
Saddam Hussein, the inspiration for "Little Saddam", photo: GettyImages
"Not an economist - a racist"
"The Western media is still in the 1990s, and still believes that such propaganda is still working on someone! We love MBS (Mohammed bin Salman) and we love wearing the kaffiya," noted Mohammed al-Salami.
"It's not the 'economist', it's the racist (it's not the economist, it's the racist)."
The Arab journalist Laura Al-Bassat, who lives in the USA, wrote: "The cover of this magazine is racist.
There are thousands of Arabs who wear head coverings.
There are many ways to allude to the image of Mohammed bin Salman without an illustration of an Arab with a bomb.
shameful".
Naturally, bin Salman's opponents in the Arab world actually welcomed the publication, and quoted it extensively on social networks.
The same sources mainly described the life of luxury enjoyed by the Saudi prince, which includes yachting and parties.
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