
Saudi rulers’ unhappiness with UK media is not
specific to this particular instance. They are threatened by the rise in news
stories portraying the Saudi military campaign in Yemen in a negative light. BBC
had several programs that put the blame for the horrific conditions of children
in Yemen on Saudi Arabia. Moreover, UK media in general is highlighting the hypocrisy
of UK government, which criticizes Saudi War in Yemen, but keeps selling weapons
that enable the rulers of the kingdom to conduct its destructive war in Yemen.
In its attempt to manage this crisis, especially that
UK premiere was a guest during the GCC summit in Bahrain, Downing Street was
forced to release a statement distancing itself from Johnson’s views.
Johnson’s comment is just one in many negative
statements made by Western leaders, in the last two years, accusing Saudi
Arabia of spreading an extremist interpretation of Islam
and supporting terrorist groups around the world. Outgoing U.S. president, Barack Obama made the case against Saudi Arabia in a 90-page long article summarizing his views in The Atlantic. Last summer, German intelligence officials also accused Saudi Arabia of building Islamic centers in the West that promote Wahhabism. The incoming U.S. administration will likely take a harsh stance against Saudi Arabian leaders as well.
In short the Saudi rulers must reform their political
and religious institutions to be able to live in peace with their neighbors or
risk crippling isolation.
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