Looser Rein, Uncertain Gain

A Human Rights Assessment of Five Years of King Abdullah’s Reforms in Saudi Arabia

Introduction

I. Saudi Rights Reform: A Contentious Field

Growth of the Saudi Human Rights Movement

Repression of Rights Advocates

Human Rights Monitoring

Extent and Limits to Rights Reform..

Foreign Debate about Saudi Reforms

II. Loosening the Shackles on Women

Male Guardianship

Sex Segregation and Women at Work

Religious Police

Domestic Violence

III. Greater Margin of Freedom of Expression

Increased Freedom of Expression

Censorship

Punished for Criticism and Rights Advocacy

IV. Improving Judicial Fairness

Legal Codification and Judicial Restructuring

Judicial Accountability

Problematic Trials

V. Religious Intolerance at Home

Interfaith Dialogue Initiative

Discrimination against Shia

VI. Neglect of Migrant Worker Rights

Sponsorship and its Reform..

Ineffective Sanctions

VII. Conclusion and Recommendations

Acknowledgments