abdullah

King Abdullah: Royal Pain

Mark Fiore / Truthdig Jan 29, 2015 I was curious how you could be king of a country that beheads people, doesn’t let women drive and regularly flogs people and be remembered as a “reformer” when you die. Dig deeper

Protests Banned in Saudi Arabia

Staff / Truthdig Mar 6, 2011 U.S. ally and oil-rich Middle East monarchy Saudi Arabia has responded to domestic dissent by slapping a ban on public demonstrations. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Saudi King Pardons Rape Victim

Staff / Truthdig Dec 18, 2007 Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah marked the first day of Hajj by pardoning the so-called Qatif girl, who was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison because she was traveling with a man when she was attacked and gang-raped. The Saudi justice minister said that, despite the pardon, the king was "convinced and sure that the verdicts were fair." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Saudi Women Lobby to Drive

Staff / Truthdig Sep 18, 2007 Challenging their culture's conservative gender laws, a group of Saudi Arabian women from the Committee of Demanders of Women's Right to Drive Cars is preparing to petition King Abdullah to allow women to, well, drive cars. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Saudi Arabia Calls American Occupation ‘Illegitimate’

Staff / Truthdig Mar 30, 2007 One of Bush's biggest buddies in the Mideast, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, described the Iraq war as an "illegitimate foreign occupation" while pleading for Arab unity. His remarks came during a summit of the Arab League, which plans to approach Israel with a renewed diplomatic effort. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )