It is the shadow that tarnishes the picture.
The economic and societal modernization of the crown prince does not suffer from any dispute.
In the kingdom, diplomats and observers, often taken aback, wonder why, when he promotes the fairer sex, does MBS allow bloggers, who are not very dangerous, to be sentenced to such heavy prison terms?
Why is he embarking, more broadly, on an implacable repression of all political dissent, even if it means blurring his image, while Arabia is investing billions to improve it?
Under the reign of King Salman and his son, executions have almost doubled since 2015, from an average of 71 per year between 2010 and 2014 to 130 since, according to the British NGO Reprieve.
They reached the number of 147 in 2022. In March last year, Riyadh did not hesitate to announce the execution of 81 people in a single day, for crimes related to terrorism, causing an international outcry.
Read alsoGulf: the visit as a symbol of Xi Jinping
In August 2022, Saudi justice weighs down…
This article is for subscribers only.
You have 77% left to discover.
Want to read more?
Unlock all items immediately.
Without engagement.
TEST FOR €0.99
Already subscribed?
Login