State Censorship in Saudi Arabia: The Case of Jamal Khashoggi

Abstract

This article analyses one of the most contemporary topics related to the Middle East, namely the impact of state censorship in Saudi Arabia. The assassination of the former Washington Post columnist and Saudi Arabian activist and journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 exacerbated the negligence of the Saudi regime in their use of force and violence in violating human rights. State censorship in the Saudi Kingdom has been even worse after the incident including, public arrests, intimidation and even more assassinations. The appointment of Mohammed Bin Salman into the office of Crown Prince orchestrated and accelerated detainees within 2017 and beyond. He is moving across the international stage as the future king of Saudi Arabia with the support of his father King Salman, Saudi Royals and the oil income of his country. The research employed a qualitative approach of content analysis to understand the political climate of Saudi Arabia and assess how Khashoggi‘s work threatened the Crown Prince and his advisers. Critical Theory understanding of hegemony and ideology were used to understand the behavior of the Saudi state. It is argued that the state‘s origins in violence, tribal habits, and the proud character of the Crown Prince are factors that contributed to Khashoggi‘s murder. The Saudi regime has a responsibility to maintain and safeguard its‘ hegemony in the Kingdom. In this respect in order to keep the status quo the employment of repressive state apparatuses is crucial in protecting the kingdom against dissidents and its critics.

Keywords

State Censorship; Political Violence; Repression; Dissidents; Media Freedom