Saudi Arabia: Dissidents Form Opposition Party

Farida Adamu, September 24, 2020

For the monarchy in Saudi Arabia, political opposition is criminal, dissent has zero-tolerance and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rules with an iron hand. However, Salman’s rule does not appear strong enough to deter a group of Saudi dissidents, who have launched an opposition party, the first organised political resistance under his rule. The last time a political opposition was organised was in 2011, however, it failed as its members were arrested.

A Parliament of Exiles

Members who constitute this newly formed party are mostly on asylum in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. The party is being led by prominent London-based human rights activist Yahya Assiri, a former Royal Saudi Air Force officer, and founder of the London-based human rights organisation ALQST. Other of its members include Madawi al-Rasheed, Saeed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi, Abdullah Alaoudh and Omar Abdulaziz.

“We hereby announce the establishment of the National Assembly Party, which aims to institute democracy as a form of government in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the group announced  in a statement on Wednesday

Governing the Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia runs a full authoritarian monarchy, with no political party and no elected parliament. The newly formed National Assembly Party (NAAS) wants this system outlawed and is calling for an elected parliament and separation of the legislative, judicial and executive branches. The group is, however, not agitating for any protests to hold. The party’s spokeswoman, Britain-based academic Madawi al-Rasheed, has also said its founders have no personal animosity towards the ruling family.

The State of Human Rights in Saudi Arabia 

Saudi Arabia has reportedly committed numerous violations of international humanitarian law. The gulf state is widely regarded as repressive and perpetrates abuse on activists, clerics and any opposing voices. The murder of Journalist Jamal Khasoogi has put the Saudi state under further international scrutiny.

Will the formation of an opposition party enervate Saudi’s strong men? 

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