On one hand, very important #Saudi development recognizing, at last, the importance of having a codified penal code, family law, etc; on the other hand, if the codified laws look like the "terrorism" and "cybercrime" laws, things will probably get worse! cnb.cx/3rzaCqF
Of note: 1) Activists have spent *decades* pushing for codification of laws in #Saudi. Absence of penal code meant bizarre crazy batshit like folks sentenced to DEATH for "witchcraft" and "sorcery"; & a "crime" is defined as whatever the judge feels like calling a crime that day
2) Codifying laws is another means to centralize power & authority. Whereas any old judge in any old court could decide "OFF with his head" for any old reason, without even delivering an opinion, codifying laws will reduce the discretion of judges and their arbitrary justice
3) In a normal world, reducing the discretion of judges might be a good thing. In #Saudi it also means that more and more power is concentrated in the hands of #MBS and the absolute authority of the monarchy, which has been extremely problematic for many, many Saudis
4) Like even best reforms in #Saudi, the dark shadow of absolute rule of an unelected (unhinged) prince looms: driving ban for women abolished, but those who demanded it jailed; religious police decapitated from power, but all independent sources of power in country decapitated.
5) Much tea leaf reading ahead: is this preemptive Biden pressure at work? does this show just how much MBS needs to heel to maintain US protection? Bottom line remains: US should not enable/support abusive governments, who have no legitimacy as representatives of their people.

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More from @sarahleah1

10 Feb
Single most important article on US disaster in #Yemen & how we might avoid repeating mistakes w people of Yemen holding the bag. Doubt US will successfully negotiate peace, but at min must reexamine assumptions about US interests that tether us to madmen foreignaffairs.com/articles/unite…
Continued "defensive" weapons & operations, aka "reassurances" or appeasement WILL be a repeat of Obama admin mistakes. Note that not Russia, not China, is stepping in to fill the void for "offensive" weapons, insisting it will continue to fuel the Saudi UAE war
What's missing: any recognition that we owe amends to the people of Yemen, and that accountability is a critical requirement for avoiding repeating mistakes. Congress must DEMAND hearings to examine how we ended up helping kill 250K Yemenis, and what reparations we owe them
Read 7 tweets
29 Jan
1) MORE on #Saudi #UAE arms freeze: As we shift to reassuring Gulf dictators that we will continue to “defend” them and sell them “defensive” weapons, notwithstanding arms freeze and pending JCPOA, keep in mind that this is exactly what “propping up” abusive dictators means.
2) These dictators do not represent the people of their country, they’re not legitimately elected, and they’ve repeatedly shown that they see the freedom of their citizens as an existential threat. It’s a fallacy to confuse “defending” them with defending their “country”.
3) It’s also a fallacy to assume that their “security concerns” are national security concerns. They’re first and foremost personal concerns for survival and preservation. This is why they fear democracy and democratic Islamist including the Muslim Brotherhood most of all.
Read 9 tweets
28 Jan
Some thoughts on #UAE #Saudi arms freeze:

1) Note caveated language that arms suspension is tied to offensive weapons used in Yemen, not more broadly. This is much narrower than what @joebiden promised, which was a complete ban on arms sales to Saudi wsj.com/articles/biden…
2) This is now coupled w reassurances that US will continue to assist "security partners" (UAE/Saudi - what an oxymoron) in their defense, coming at same time as US ramps up troops and access in Saudi. Pre-sweetener for Iran deal?
3) Ending war in Yemen, however, is only one part of Saudi UAE abuses in region and domestically. UAE continues to illegally transport arms and indiscriminately bomb Libya, for example. A ban on offensive weapons used in Yemen won't address this
Read 12 tweets
23 Dec 20
This is Ali. He was 9 years old when Blackwater contractors whom Trump pardoned today murdered him. No justice for Ali, but let's keep asking, "why do they hate us?"
Alas. US attorney said at the time:
“These Blackwater contractors unleashed powerful sniper fire, machine guns & grenade launchers on innocent men,women & children.They were held accountable forthat outrageous attack&its devastating consequences for so many Iraqi families.”
"Despite their skepticism about the trial, more than two dozen Iraqi witnesses volunteered to travel to Washington to testify. They described a scene of horror and confusion as they took cover from the machine-gun fire coming from American armored trucks."
Read 8 tweets
21 Dec 20
No surprise #UAE@MohamedBinZayed⁩ sent his minions to try to infiltrate @hrw given our relentless reports on country’s abuses. Total failure ofc. We were able to use the $2m we had no idea was secretly coming from him to do great work on the gulf! bloomberg.com/news/features/…
Was distressing to learn that minion Robeson, falsely presented himself as head of a “foundation”, looked me in eye to express his wish for reform in the region, breaching his legal fiduciary duties and duties of trust as a board member.
Good thing #UAE minion Robeson was a total putz, never opening his mouth. Glad he was able to report directly about MENA abuses we were documenting straight to @MohamedBinZayed - at least he can’t say he wasn’t informed.
Read 5 tweets
4 Oct 20
Disturbing reports that #Egypt executed 23 people yesterday, including 15 political prisoners. Working to verify details. The US state dept went batshit condemning unjust execution of Iranian wrestler; will it condemn this by its “ally” Egypt?
The US rushed through new sanctions on Iranian officials involved in Navid Afkari’s unjust execution. It “mourned” his death and condemned the unfair trials. It specifically sanctioned the judges too:

state.gov/major-new-huma…
I’m holding my breath to see @SecPompeo condemn these executions in #egypt where justice is a mockery, torture endemic, political prisoners flooding prisons. Here are a few Egyptian culprits who are the counterparts to their sanctioned brothers in Iran:
Read 8 tweets

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