
The late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia presided over a government grounded in Sharia law that discriminated against women in every conceivable way, did not recognize any political freedoms, repressed any political dissent, and refused entry to Israeli passport holders. While Hillary was Secretary, the State Department formally criticized and documented the violations of human rights in the Saudi kingdom
On the King’s death, the Clintons praised his “humanitarian efforts.”
Oh, and by the way, the King contributed between $10 million and $25 million to the Clinton Foundation.
That’s the definition of “humanitarian efforts” in the Clinton world.
Here’s what Bill and Hillary had to say:
“…And we are grateful for his support of efforts for peace in the Middle East; our close economic cooperation; the Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts around the world; especially its contributions after the earthquake in Haitii ..”
Note: The Clintons did not mention any humanitarian efforts inside Saudi Arabia! – for good reason. Saudi Arabia is one of the most politically repressive countries in the world and institutionally discriminates against women. Israeli passport holders are banned from entering the country.
Here’s what Hillary Clinton’s State Department had to say about the violations of basic human rights in Saudi Arabia, including Anti-Semitism, massive discrimination against women, lack of internet freedom and freedom of speech in general.
U.S. Department of State 2012 Saudi Arabia Human Rights Report
“The most important human rights problems reported included citizens’ lack of the right and legal means to change their government; pervasive restrictions on universal rights such as freedom of expression, including on the internet, and freedom of assembly, association, movement, and religion; and a lack of equal rights for women, children, and noncitizen workers.
Other human rights problems reported included torture and other abuses; overcrowding in prisons and detention centers; holding political prisoners and detainees; denial of due process; arbitrary arrest and detention; and arbitrary interference with privacy, home, and correspondence. Violence against women, trafficking in persons, and discrimination based on gender, religion, sect, race, and ethnicity were common, although the government made efforts to counter discrimination in some areas and increasingly prosecuted individuals for trafficking and domestic violence. Lack of governmental transparency and access made it difficult to assess the magnitude of many reported human rights problems.”
And here’s am excerpt about discrimination against women:
“Women continued to face significant discrimination under law and custom, and many remained uninformed about their unequal rights. Although they may legally own property and are entitled to financial support from their guardian, women have fewer political or social rights than men, and society treats them as unequal members in the political and social spheres.
The country’s interpretation of Sharia prohibits women from marrying non-Muslims, but men may marry Christians and Jews.
Women do not directly transmit citizenship to their children.
The guardianship system requires that every woman have a close male relative as her “guardian” with the legal authority to approve her travel outside of the country (see section 2.d.). A guardian also has authority to approve some types of business licenses and study at a university or college. Women can work without their guardian’s permission; however, most employers required women have their guardian’s permission. A husband who “verbally” (rather than via a court process) divorces his wife or refuses to sign final divorce papers continues to be her legal guardian.
Women faced discrimination under family law. For example, a woman needs a guardian’s permission to marry
Courts award custody of children when they attain a specified age (seven years for boys and nine years for girls) to the divorced husband or the deceased husband’s family. In numerous cases former husbands prevented divorced noncitizen women from visiting their children.
Women are also discriminated against under inheritance laws, where daughters receive half the inheritance awarded to their brothers.””
Doesn’t sound like a regime that Hillary Clinton would compliment, does it? But a contribution of more than $10 million to the Clinton Foundation as well as hundreds of thousands in speeches to Bill goes a long way at buying good will. And the late King’s $50 million donation to the UN Haiti Reconstruction Fund, while Bill was the U.N. Haiti Ambassador showed just what humanitarianism is all about.