One nation has been making a concerted effort to destabilise, terrorise and degrade Western nations.
A country which is frequently alleged to have funded terrorism, practice torture, deny human rights, and even plans to execute a man for nothing more than attending a protest.
The enemy takes the form of Saudi Arabia. The largest of the Gulf States, it has had a long and sordid affair with the West. It is an absolute monarchy with political parties and elections being outlawed. It practices sharia law, which is justice and punishment according to Islam. In these courts the judge may pass any punishment he – and he alone – deems fit for the crime, whilst also acting as the jury.
The Saudis also use a modern slave labour system, as many natives are reluctant to work blue collar jobs. These slaves are often from poorer countries like Pakistan or Bangladesh – and are held forcefully in a state of serfdom to complete the numerous building and engineering projects throughout the country.
According to Human Rights Watch, foreign slaves account for around half of the workforce in Saudi clerical, administration, service, and construction jobs. Unsurprisingly, Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries in the world not to have signed the UN convention on human rights.
Internationally Saudi Arabia has long been accused of funding terrorism. In 2009 a State report signed by Hilary Clinton identified the Saudis as the key funders of Islamic extremist groups such as Al Qaida, the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Osama Bin Laden himself was a Saudi who used his financial muscle to help the Taliban: first against the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, and later against the West.
Shockingly, the Saudis were recently placed at the head of a key UN human rights panel – to the outrage of the international community – with some help from its main supporter, the United States, which “welcomed” this decision.
A key example of their disregard for human rights is Ali Mohammed al-Nimr; a young man from Saudi Arabia who has been sentenced to death by crucifixion for his involvement in anti-government protests when he was just seventeen years old. Despite international outcry the Saudis still plan to put him to death.
Ali is the latest casualty in a trail of carnage that the Saudis have wreaked throughout recent history. Forget the comical ramblings of North Korean Dictators, disregard the squabbles of the South China Sea and shift you gaze to a real enemy
A place of death, torture, terrorism and massive human rights abuses. Saudi Arabia is the true enemy of the West.
Original colour featured photo via Ash Carter, US Secretary of Defense on Flickr.
