Saudi Forces 'Told to Kill' to Clear Land for Eco-City
Saudi Forces 'Told to Kill' to Clear Land for Eco-City
The Facts
Saudi authorities have reportedly authorized the use of lethal force to clear land for Neom, a $500 billion futuristic desert city project.
A former Saudi intelligence officer, Colonel Rabih Alenezi, claims he was instructed to evict villagers in order to clear the land for the project. The Saudi government has said that 6,000 people have been displaced for the Neom project, though human rights have estimated that the true figure may be much higher.
The Spin
Saudi Arabia has no regard for human rights. Using lethal force against peaceful protests is not only a grossly disproportionate response, it violates these villagers human rights to life and property. The Crown Prince obviously cares more about his kingdoms economic interests more than he cares about human-lives or the wellbeing of his country's residents.
The area that Neom is being built is largely uninhabited, making it the perfect blank canvas for a project of this scale. Though some villagers will need to be relocated, they are being compensated for the inconvenience. This innovative project will be a groundbreaking site to test solutions to some of the biggest issues humanity faces, providing not only a large amount of environmental sustainability but also a high quality of life for future residents.