In a shameful incident, a promotional video published by the State Security Presidency of the Saudi regime portrayed the feminist movement as extremist ideas and placed it in the same box with homosexuality and atheism.
“Extremism in short is to override centrism in adopting anything or rejecting it, “said an animated video posted on Twitter via the State Security Account.
“For example, adopting a specific opinion and fighting the rest of the views is called extremist extremism. The opposite is true: excessive leniency and dissolution are extremes, but another type is called dissolution or inattention. Radicalization and dissolution in all its forms is rejected.
The video considered the aforementioned a kind of atonement.
The voice accompanying the video, “Do not forget that exaggerating love anything at the expense of the homeland is extremism, so as important as one understands the meaning of extremism, and be moderate in all matters without stress and dissolution, with the interest of the country above all else.”
In his plans to open up society and attract foreign investment to diversify the Kingdom’s oil-dependent economy, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman claims he is seeking to promote a more moderate version of Islam and foster national sentiment.
Steps such as easing social restrictions, issuing a tourist visa, and easing the male guardianship system that cost a male guardian to every woman who was responsible for all the important decisions in her life were promoted.
But the authorities also cracked down on the opposition, arresting dozens of critics, including clerics, intellectuals and activists.
About a dozen women defenders were arrested weeks before a ban on women driving was lifted last year. These women were active in a campaign to demand that women be allowed to drive. Activists and diplomats predicted that this was probably a message that reform would only take place at the initiative of the government.
The Saudi prosecutor said the women had been arrested on suspicion of harming the Kingdom’s interests and providing support to hostile elements abroad. Some of the charges relate to their work for their rights.
Under Saudi law, support groups are classified as extremist organizations that can cause imprisonment of their workers.
Homosexuality and atheism have long been illegal in Saudi Arabia and punishable by death. Public protests and political parties are banned in the kingdom and the media are heavily censored.