But much of the initial optimism over his reforms appears to have been dented by a sweeping crackdown on women activists who long opposed the driving ban.
.@AlArabiya_Eng: One of #SaudiArabia capital #Riyadh's first female drivers speak on historic day as #SaudiWomenDriving becomes official. #SaudiWomenCanDrive pic.twitter.com/3MnT4TKLmu
— Saudi Gazette (@Saudi_Gazette) June 23, 2018
Authorities have said that nine of 17 arrested people remain in prison, accused of undermining the kingdom’s security and aiding enemies of the state.
The detainees include three generations of activists, among them 28-year-old Loujain al-Hathloul — also held in 2014 for more than 70 days for attempting to drive from neighbouring United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia — and Aziza al-Yousef, a retired professor at Riyadh’s King Saud University.
This is a proud moment! Congratulations Saudi Arabia! #المرأة_السعودية_تسوق pic.twitter.com/s8KglC1cRX
— Almas Malik (@almasmalek) June 23, 2018
State-backed newspapers have published front-page pictures of some of the activists, the word “traitor” stamped across them in red.
Human Rights Watch last week said the kingdom has arrested two more women activists — Nouf Abdelaziz and Mayaa al-Zahrani, in what it denounced as an “unrelenting crackdown”.
Even some of the prince’s ardent supporters have labelled the crackdown a “mistake”.
It has been seen as a calculated move both to placate clerics incensed by his modernisation drive and also to send a clear signal to activists that he alone is the arbiter of change.
#المراه_السعوديه_تسوق. #المراه_السعوديه_تسوق
— afraah alkhudhri (@afraahalkhudhri) June 23, 2018
It’s Your Big Day Girl 🤗🤗. نحنا قدها 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/Gx4yzMT0ls
“If the authorities give credit to the women who championed lifting the driving ban, it means conceding that reforms can be won through activism, and then the Saudis may demand more,” said HRW researcher Rothna Begum.
“Saudi Arabia’s crown prince wants it both ways: to be lauded as a reformer on the world stage, and to ensure his status as the only reformer at home.”
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