Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Human Rights Watch urges Middle East governments to follow the secular example of Saudi Arabia

"As Human Rights Watch documented during a trip to Gaza in May, severe violations of personal freedom and repression of civil society groups that defend that freedom appear to be sharply on the rise. The Hamas government, trying to shore up its image as an Islamic reform movement in the face of challenges from more radical Islamist groups, is consolidating its social control by upping its efforts to "Islamize" Gaza." Let me say this: the efforts by Hamas to Islamize Gaza are real: I have been receiving messages from Palestinians about that. But can you imagine if a staffer of Human Rights Watch were to warn about the efforts to Islamize Saudi Arabia by the Saudi royal family? Or would Human Rights Watch dare talk about the Judaization of Israel? Just imagine. (thanks Dina)