[sthkr]

The last thing anyone needs advice about human rights is from the west. The invasions and mass murders in wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Iran, Libya. Still remember that pr*ck Colin Powell showing that vial to justify that invasion of Iraq. The world's worst murderers have been the British, Dutch, Belgian, French, Spanish and American empires throughout history. The worst genocide in history was committed by Belgium in Congo where they killed millions.

Lol no one gets their head cut off for gay sex or wrong religion. Capital punishment is only for murder, terrorism, rape and drug smugglers. The Saudi Government is quite liberal there. It's your own Saudi families that will ostracize you based on their own decisions.

You keep talking about dissidents. I still remember Obama and his Arab spring and how thousands died because of him. The west like to implant people to create internal conflicts inside countries. It's not going to work in the Gulf countries as all the citizens know how the Americans thrive on instigating conflict. That journalist just wanted to create anarchy. I still remember the terrorist attacks at my American school and other cities in Saudi Arabia during 2004 - 2005. I trust the police and government to eradicate all the extremist and outside threats to the country and keep everyone safe. They've basically cleaned out all the extremism in these past 20 years from the country. The Americans also enjoyed keeping the Saudis and Iranians fighting until the Chinese stepped in and created peace between these two countries.

Americans need to worry about their own backyard with their crap healthcare, poverty, homelessness, illegals, gun violence etc. Saudi Arabia isn't perfect, but Saudi citizens have to pay no income taxes, get free universal healthcare, free education, free university education, all government paid scholarships for universities abroad (tuition, travel & living), first priority in all jobs, social security support for low income citizens, interest free mortgages, etc. Plus Saudi Arabia long with the other Gulf countries like UAE & Qatar are some of the safest countries. All illegals arrested and deported every month, low crime rates, no African/Asian Refugee illegal drunk junkies roaming the streets (like Europe/America), no homeless tents, no gun violence etc.

The Gulf countries along with Japan, South Korea, Singapore and China know how to keep their countries safe, clean and well. Look at Europe & Scandinavia now with all the illegals running around.

[dgfl]

I would rather have self expression than draconian laws. All Western European countries are as safe as they need to be.

[mpalmer]

Your country, at least to the extent you seem to claim it as such, only started letting its women drive in 2018. As recently as 2011 there was no law prohibiting violence against women. So that's one way of keeping the crime rate low, I guess.

If someone were paying you to defend the Saudi state in online forums, you would probably go to the trouble of giving your posts at least a tiny bit of nuance.

[sthkr]

No ones paying me anything. I've lived there for almost 3 decades there and travelled around the world too including western countries. I know how the country has transitioned in these last 30 years from the clutches of religious extremists and into a more comfortable country for its young generation of citizens. Saudi Arabia has always been a traditional country with Bedouin customs. Before, all families had personal drivers and chauffeurs to help the women travel around. In the last few years, Saudi Arabia has fired millions of foreigners and encouraged more women to get in the work force. Hence, the government decided to let them drive. Companies that hire women in Saudi Arabia get more benefits from the government. Women get all their travel expenses refunded to them by the government for the first few years. There are so many universities and programs for universities for women. Regarding the crime rate, yes it's low compared to western countries. Crime does occur both in families and around the country, but the government helps takes care of all these issues. The streets are still safer in the Gulf countries than compared to western countries. You won't find african/asian junkies, drunks, muggers roaming around the streets stealing or threatening people. The government does an amazing job of maintaining order and arresting and deporting thousands of illegals and criminals each month.

[SanjayMehta]

You’re wasting your time trying to educate the wilfully ignorant.

[mpalmer]

> Before, all families had personal drivers and chauffeurs to help the women travel around.

It is frankly incredible how profoundly you are missing the point.

> Crime does occur both in families and around the country, but the government helps takes care of all these issues.

Oh I'm sure they do, and when something goes to court, a man's testimony carries twice the weight of a woman's. Or would you deny and/or sugarcoat that?

> You won't find african/asian junkies, drunks, muggers roaming around the streets stealing or threatening people.

You've described this weird racist fantasy of yours more than once now. Do you think that's what the world outside your country is like? That's really sad if so.

You are making the mistake of assuming most people share your values, which based solely on this thread seem to be authoritarian, nativist and male-supremacist.

[leosanchez]

> Plus Saudi Arabia long with the other Gulf countries like UAE & Qatar are some of the safest countries.

Do legal immigrants get to keep their passports?

[sthkr]

Yes, all foreign workers get to keep their passports while working there. There were issues 20 years ago with certain companies and sponsors keeping the passports of their employees. It's always been illegal to do that and doesn't happen. The foreign worker comes on their temporary work visa and should leave before their work visa expires. Thousands of foreign skilled engineers, doctors, nurses, accountants, scientists, teachers etc. work in Saudi Arabia. Everyone keeps their passports and it's the company that hires them and renews their visa yearly if they want to keep them in their employment.