Saudi Arabia: Behind the Influencers, the Kingdom of Fear | Sources | ART

Saudi Arabia: Behind the Glamour, a Kingdom Gripped by Fear. Saudi Arabia, once unthinkable as a tourist destination, now floods social media with images of stunning landscapes, luxury hotels, and vibrant cities. Hundreds of influencers, invited since 2020, paint a picture of a country in the midst of transformation, where women can drive and travel without a male guardian, and where entertainment and modernity take center stage. Carefully curated posts, often pre-approved and sponsored, broadcast a message of progress and openness, echoing the ambitions of the kingdom’s leadership to rebrand the country on the world stage. But behind these glossy images lies a starkly different reality. For ordinary Saudis, online expression remains perilous. Dissent, even in the form of a tweet or a social media post, can result in years—sometimes even decades—behind bars. The story of a young fitness coach, sentenced to 11 years in prison for challenging the guardianship system and posting videos in “improper” attire, reveals the high cost of speaking out. Men aren’t spared, as seen in the case of a Wikipedia contributor sentenced to 32 years for creating pages on women’s rights and human rights activists. The laws used to silence critics are intentionally vague. The anti-terrorism and cybercrime statutes are so broad that a simple disturbance to public order or material deemed offensive to public morals can land someone in prison. Peaceful activists are routinely charged with terrorism, and the numbers of those incarcerated for their online activities likely run into the hundreds, though the true scale is impossible to verify. International pressure sometimes leads to discreet releases, but freedom remains elusive. Former prisoners are often barred from leaving the country for years, sometimes indefinitely, with electronic bracelets tracking their every move. The threat of renewed punishment hangs over them, ensuring continued silence. The paradox is stark. While the kingdom hosts global internet governance summits, touting empowerment and digital freedoms, activists’ voices are censored even within these forums. Flyers are confiscated, and critical remarks are edited out of official broadcasts. Meanwhile, the government’s own human rights commission projects an image of justice and dignity, even as execution rates soar to record highs. Beneath the carefully constructed narrative of reform, a climate of fear persists. Social media may showcase a dazzling, modern Saudi Arabia to the world, but for many of its citizens, the cost of honest expression is unbearably high.