Moves toward reform wane in Saudi Arabia

Just a year ago, democratic changes in this absolute monarchy seemed to be gathering steam. But what observers saw as a promising opening has been stymied as an influx of oil money and victories against militants linked to Al Qaeda have reduced the urgency surrounding reform.

A number of signs point to retrenchment. A law issued recently by the Council of Ministers makes the signing of petitions by government employees, or speaking critically of the government to the press, punishable by firing or jail. A trial of three reformists charged with dissension and other crimes, which started in August and was open to the public, has been closed. And in King Fahd's annual speech last month to the Shura Council, an advisory group, reforms were ignored, analysts say.

"It seems that the Interior Ministry has the upper hand in the war on terrorism, so they think it's about time for them to target reform-minded individuals," says Khaled al-Dukhayel, assistant professor of political sociology at King Saud University. "To [government officials], reforms are as much of a threat as terrorism, and they are now criminalizing reform activities," he says.

Just last year, members of the royal family, including Crown Prince Abdullah and Defense Minister Prince Sultan, seemed to vie with each other in championing reform. In Riyadh and the port city of Jeddah, the atmosphere was charged with a sense of upcoming change. Activists met in cafes and homes to brainstorm and write petitions asking for more political and social freedoms.

Lawyers, journalists, and professors took their cause to Arab satellite channels and newspapers, openly discussing previously taboo subjects. They called for transparency in Saudi Arabia's huge annual budget, accountability for government officials, an end to corruption, and more political participation.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, carried out mainly by Saudi hijackers, the kingdom has been under intense pressure from the US to provide outlets for political dissent. Pressure also increased from within last year after militants ratcheted up attacks to drive Westerners out of the kingdom, home to Islam's two holiest sites.

Some 100 people, including foreigners and policemen, have died in the violence. Recently, the Interior Ministry said it had gotten the upper hand, and since June, major attacks on Western compounds and car bombings have halted. Militants have still made their mark, engaging in a series of assassinations of Westerners. A week ago, a French engineer in Jeddah was shot as he left a market. It was the seventh killing of a Westerner in four months.

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