From September 23, 2023, and over the course of a week, the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has organized celebratory programs for the occasion of National Day 93. The celebrations, under the theme "We Dream and Achieve," include musical and military performances, as well as competitions in various regions of the country.
The General Entertainment Authority, established by royal decree in 2016, has called on all government and private entities to use and adopt the approved identity for the 93rd National Day. They have also launched several events and invited the population to participate. Official directives for the celebrations reflect the Saudi government's control and guidance over all aspects, including the celebrations. This is particularly notable given the wide-ranging authority the Entertainment Authority possesses in shaping or regulating the "public taste" as it sees fit, without clear rules and laws.
Imposing loyalty through oppression:
Through the National Day celebrations, Saudi Arabia attempts to showcase the absolute loyalty of its citizens to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince. The identity of the day is linked to the vision of Mohammed bin Salman and the accompanying projects. This promotion comes despite citizens not being involved in any of the pivotal decisions made and the negative impacts of these projects, including forced displacement.
Furthermore, the General Entertainment Authority emphasized that citizens' participation in the National Day events symbolizes loyalty and belonging. The repeated emphasis on declaring loyalty coincides with the Saudi government's approach to enforcing it through various means, including laws, the judiciary, prisons, and intimidation, to prevent any criticism or dissent.
Saudi Arabia does not officially declare that it punishes for loyalty, but the observation of several cases reveals a pattern of using trials to seek out dissent by criminalizing certain peaceful practices such as expressing opinions, protesting, or writing. Despite attempts to suppress civil society domestically, tracking dozens of verdicts demonstrates Saudi Arabia's use of charges, especially under the anti-terrorism law and the cybercrime law, to criminalize any objection or criticism of the king or the crown prince, resulting in sentences including death and imprisonment for decades. The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights highlights some of the cases that illustrate the suppression exercised by Saudi Arabia to enforce loyalty.
- In January 2016, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was executed. Among the prominent charges brought against him were disobedience to the ruler and incitement against him.
- In November 2022, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced Mohammed Abdul-Faraj to death. Among the charges he faced was insulting the royal family during protests, and he currently faces the imminent threat of execution.
- In July 2023, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced Mohammed Al-Ghamdi to death based on a tweet. The charges brought against him included apostasy from his religion and country, renouncing allegiance to the rulers, and insulting them, in addition to blasphemy against the king and crown prince.
- Since 2019, the Public Prosecution has been seeking the death penalty for Sheikh Salman Al-Ouda on various charges, including:
- Inciting society against the rulers and calling for a change in the Saudi government.
- Mocking and ridiculing government achievements and calling on people to hold authorities accountable.
- Disparaging nationalism and loyalty to the government and the country, expressing them at the cost of freedom and justice, and tarnishing Saudi affiliation.
In addition to the cases mentioned earlier, the Specialized Criminal Court in Saudi Arabia has issued lengthy sentences to citizens on charges related to not showing absolute loyalty. Here are a couple of notable cases:
- Mustafa Al-Shayukh, a minor, was arrested when he was 15 years old and subjected to torture and ill-treatment. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges that included incitement against the ruler, disobedience to him, and not adhering to good citizenship through participation in protests.
- Activist Salma Al-Shahab was sentenced by the Specialized Criminal Court in August 2022 to 34 years in prison on charges that included using the internet to blaspheme against religion and the justice of the king and insulting state symbols.
The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights believes that the harsh sentences, including the death penalty and lengthy imprisonments, for charges directly related to not glorifying the king and crown prince, demonstrate that Saudi Arabia aims to enforce loyalty through repression and intimidation and it uses National Day events to obscure these practices.
ESOHR considers that the restrictions and violations against anyone expressing an opinion that does not align with the official narrative or glorify the country's rulers suggest the possibility of enforcing the celebration of National Day. It is not inconceivable that individuals failing to observe National Day and comply with the directives of the responsible authority could face repercussions, which serves as an incentive for participation out of fear of punishment. ESOHR emphasizes that the celebrations of National Day 93 come amid an escalating suppression of political and civil freedoms, with national entities, including the Entertainment Authority, being used to whitewash these violations and obscure the reality.