If the press is not free, if speech is not independent and untrammeled, it makes no difference under what form of government you live, you are a subject and not a citizen. – U.S. Senator William E. Borah
Middle East & North Africa
Saudi Arabia
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| IREX Score: 1.50 | [IREX Methodology] |
| {Higher is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 4.00} |
IREX Description:
Three years after King Abdallah bin Abdel-Aziz took the throne, stirring hopes among many Saudis for changes at the level of personal and media freedom, optimism is evaporating.
Increased tensions within the kingdom have led to the blocking of websites and the arrest and detention of many bloggers, including Fouad Farhan, who was detained for having criticized economic and social conditions in a blog that carried his real name. He was held for more than five months amid local, regional and international demands for his release. At the same time, the prevalent feeling among media observers is that Saudi media were experiencing a period of rejuvenation, as they were allowed to address a wider variety of topics. This was the result of several factors, including that editors-in-chief raised the censorship ceiling of previously prohibited issues.
| Freedom House Score: 83 (Not Free) | [Freedom House Methodology] |
| {Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 100} |
| Freedom on the Net Score: 70 (Not Free) | [Freedom House Methodology] |
| {Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 100} |
The government of Saudi Arabia is credited with supporting the rapid expansion of the internet through consistent upgrades to its infrastructure. However, by implementing strict filtering mechanisms to block undesirable content, excessive monitoring of internet users, and detention and intimidation of online commentators, the government has also been responsible for making the country one of the world’s most repressive with respect to freedom of expression online.
Read more on Freedom House's site...
| RSF Score: 61.50 | [RSF Methodology] |
| {Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to ~120} |
Reporters Without Borders Description:
The sixth king of Saudi Arabia, Abdallah Ibn Abdulaziz al-Saud, “custodian of the two holy mosques”, has been in power since August 2005 and also holds the post of prime minister. The regime has under his rule swung between repression and openness. He had political activists and journalists arrested while at the same time holding the country’s first municipal elections.
| Committee to Protect Journalists Description: | [What is the Committee to Protect Journalists?] |
Visit CPJ’s Site for Recent Developments in this Country
| IFEX News: | [What is IFEX?] |
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