The King of Saudi Arabia has replaced the Crown Prince.
Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz al-Saud(August 1, 1924, Riyadh) - King of Saudi Arabia (Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques).
Son of the first King of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz, and his eighth wife, Fahda. Belongs to the Shammar tribe. In 1982-2005 - Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister. Since 1996, he has been the de facto ruler of the state under King Fahd, since the latter suffered a massive stroke and could not fully fulfill his duties.
early years
Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz al-Saud was born in 1924 in Riyadh, the son of King Abdulaziz II of Najd, Hejaz and the annexed territories, and received a traditional religious education at the royal court, as well as secular and political education at school. However, he does not have a higher education. Abdullah was the only son of his mother Fahda, who belonged to the aristocratic clan of the Shammar tribe. She also gave birth to two daughters for the king. Abdullah is the only child of the first King Abdul Aziz who has no full brothers. All the other 43 sons of the first Saudi monarch are his half-bloods.
Abdallah experienced the deep influence of his father in his youth, learning from him respect for the traditions of Islam and love for national history and cultural heritage. Since his childhood, he spent a lot of time in the desert, learning about the unpretentious life of the Bedouins, whose moral and ethical code puts such concepts as honor, generosity and courage in overcoming life's adversities in the first place.
Political activity
He served as mayor of Mecca and deputy minister of defense. In 1962, King Faisal appointed him commander of the National Guard, a military institute with educational tasks, which was formed from the descendants of supporters of King Abdulaziz. Prince Abdullah has transformed this organization into a modern, well-equipped structure. In 1975-82 - second deputy prime minister.
He is considered an adherent of the strict Bedouin way of life, a staunch supporter of Arab solidarity and a champion of Islam. Pursues a policy of preserving national cultural heritage. In the foreign policy sphere, the king, while still a prince, repeatedly acted as a mediator in resolving intra-Arab conflicts. In 1984, he supported the entry of Syrian troops into Lebanon and demanded the withdrawal of American Marines from the region. For years, Abdullah has criticized Americans for supporting Israel. He called for a boycott of Egypt for the Camp David Accords with Israel.
Heir
Before Prince Abdullah was proclaimed crown prince in 1982, he had to fight for this title with Prince Sultan, who himself wanted this privilege. However, the family council decided not to create tension with Abdullah, as this could split the family into several opposing camps.
In 1995, Abdullah had his first taste of opposition: after King Fahd suffered a stroke, the prince ruled the country for two weeks and banned members of the royal family (which numbers about 7,000 princes and princesses) from using the state treasury. As a result of this, the Sudairi clan, fearing to lose their privileges, put pressure on Fahd and he had to take power from his own hands.
Before the outbreak of the Gulf War, Abdullah opposed the policies of King Fahd and his supporters, who advocated cooperation with the United States. Abdullah focused on relations with Iran and Syria. But still, in 1991, he supported Egypt with a proposal to end the boycott of Israel by Arab countries, subject to the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestine.
In 2002, Prince Abdullah launched an initiative for the Muslim world to recognize Israel if the Jewish state returned to its pre-1967 borders. In August 2005, Fahd died and Abdullah became the new king of Saudi Arabia.
On the throne
Having taken the oath of office as King of Saudi Arabia on August 1, 2005, Abdullah ibn Abd al-Aziz appointed a new heir. He became his paternal brother, a representative of the Sudeiri clan, Prince Sultan ibn Abd al-Aziz - Minister of Defense and Aviation since 1962, Inspector General of the Kingdom.
Already in the early days of King Abdullah's reign, reports emerged that he intended to carry out economic reforms to reduce the country's dependence on oil prices, modernize the capital market and open the gas sector to foreign companies.
Domestic policy
On January 22, 2008, King Abdullah issued a decree allowing women to stay in hotels without being accompanied by male relatives. Previously, women in this country were prohibited from renting a hotel room on their own. Under the new rules, this can be done by presenting a photo ID. However, the hotel staff must notify the police of the fact of such check-in.
Foreign policy
Relations with the USA
After ascending the throne, Abdullah began closer cooperation with the United States. Thus, he supported US efforts in the fight against terrorism after the tragedy of September 11, providing territory to Saudi Arabia for a military operation to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.
Fight against terrorism
After September 11, even at that time, the Crown Prince, having learned that 15 of the 19 terrorist hijackers were his subjects, promised the United States to defeat all extremist groups. The pressure on the country from the United States and the West was enormous, internal unrest began, and Abdullah took drastic measures, ordering the arrest and liquidation of dozens of military leaders.
After becoming king, Abdullah expressed his commitment to the fight against terrorism, saying:
“Saudi Arabia will fight international terrorism, we will fight terrorists and those who support or encourage them for 10, 20 or 30 years, if necessary, until we defeat them.”
During his speech at the opening of the anti-terrorism conference in February 2008, Abdullah stated:
“Brothers and friends, Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to suffer from terrorism, to warn about this danger and to fight it with all its might at the local, regional and international levels. We are now at war against terrorism and against those who support and justify terrorism. And we will continue this war until, may Allah help, we destroy this evil.”
Relations with Russia
During President Putin's visit to Saudi Arabia (February 2007), Abdullah presented him with the kingdom's highest state award - the Order named after King Abdulaziz - and stated that "this order is awarded to the true friends of the kingdom." The King of Saudi Arabia noted:
“There is no doubt that very strong relations have been established between our countries... But between our peoples they are even stronger.”
According to him, the kingdom remembers that Russia “was the first to recognize the independence of Saudi Arabia.”
This refers to the USSR's recognition of the newly formed Saudi state. Let us recall that the first Soviet consulate was opened in July 1924. in Jeddah, which immediately irritated the British. On February 16, 1926, the government of Hejaz (the third Saudi state) was officially recognized by the USSR “... The government of the USSR, based on the principle of self-determination of peoples and deeply respecting the will of the Hejaz people, expressed in electing you as their king, recognizes you as the king of Hejaz and the Sultan of Najd and the annexed regions, stated in the note handed to Ibn Saud. “Because of this, the Soviet government considers itself to be in a state of normal diplomatic relations with Your Majesty’s Government.” In a reply note, the king wrote: “To His Excellency the Agent and Consul General of the USSR. We had the honor to receive your note on 3 Sha'ban 1344. (February 16, 1926) for No. 22, informing about the recognition by the Government of the USSR of a new situation in Hejaz, consisting in the oath of the population of Hejaz to us as the King of Hejaz, the Sultan of Nej and the annexed regions, for which my Government expresses its gratitude to the Government of the USSR, as well as full readiness for relations with the Government of the USSR and its subjects, which are inherent in friendly powers... King of Hejaz and Sultan of Nej and its annexed regions Abdul Aziz ibn Saud. Compiled in Mecca on Sha'ban 6, 1344. (February 19, 1926). (taken from the AVP of the USSR, 1926, f. 127, op. 1, folder 1, d. 6, l 4-6, - published in the monograph by A. Vasilyev, “History of Saudi Arabia,” 1999). Also in 1926. Ibn Saud convened a Muslim Congress during the Hajj in Mecca. Representatives of 69 Muslim associations from all over the world, including the USSR, gathered at the Congress. Congress recognized Ibn Saud as the “guardian of holy places,” as the head of the delegation of Muslims of Russia and Turkestan, chairman of the Central Muslim Spiritual Society Rizautdin Sakhretdinov said in an interview with a TASS correspondent.
The Order of King Abdul Aziz (???? ????? ??? ??????) which was awarded to the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin in February 2007.
Abdullah on Saudi Arabian money
The monetary unit of Saudi Arabia is the Saudi rial. Banknotes in denominations range from 1 to 500 rials. All banknotes featured a portrait of King Abdullah. The banknotes were protected by a watermark in the form of a portrait of King Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz al-Saud and a number located vertically.
Saudi Arabia 100 rials 2007 Anniversary series 2000. The era of Abdullah
In May 2007, Saudi Arabia carried out a new money issue. Banknotes are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 rials. The banknotes featured a portrait of King Abdullah. However, the previous 500 rial banknote remained unchanged. Old paper notes were withdrawn from circulation as new money was introduced.
Kissing is a sign of respect for the monarch
During a meeting on September 11, 2005 with members of the ruling family and ordinary citizens in the city of Jeddah, King Abdullah said that “kissing the hand is contrary to our values and ethical standards.” He forbade his subjects to kiss the hand of him or any member of the royal family, noting that only the father and mother deserved such respect. This, according to the monarch, leads to worship, which is a violation of religious laws, since “the believer worships only Allah alone.”
“Therefore, I categorically reject this and ask everyone not to kiss the hands of anyone other than their parents.”
In Saudi Arabia, it was customary to kiss the hand of members of the ruling family during traditional visits to them. Younger members of the royal family also kissed their hands when visiting their elders.
Criticism
In February 2008, the American magazine Parade (a supplement to The Washington Post) published a list of the most brutal dictators of our time. King Abdullah took fourth place in it, behind only the leader of the DPRK Kim Jong Il, Sudan - Omar al-Bashir and the President of Myanmar, General Than Shwe.
Personal life
The king enjoys camel racing and falconry. He is also a big fan of thoroughbred horses. He personally breeds Arabian horses and became the founder of an equestrian club.
Tops the list of the richest rulers in the world compiled by Forbes magazine.
Flag
The flag of Saudi Arabia is a rectangular
green cloth with shahada (Muslim creed):
Arab. ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??
arab La ilaha illya Allah Muhammadun
Rasul Allah??
Russian “There is no God but Allah, and
Muhammad is His prophet"
In order for the inscription to be read from
both sides, the flag is sewn from two identical panels.
The sword symbolizes the founder's victories
country - Abdel-Aziz Ibn Saud.
The green flag with the shahada was associated with
Wahhabi ideology that originated in Arabia in the 18th century. This movement was associated with
the Saudis, and when Abdel Aziz ibn Saud became king of Najd in 1902, he
added a sword to this flag. The flag design was not standardized until
March 15, 1973, and before that two-sword variants were often used
and/or a white vertical stripe on the left, near the shaft. In 1938, the flag, in general, adopted its current
view.
Law and order
Criminal law is based on Sharia. The law prohibits oral or written discussions of the existing political system. The use and trafficking of alcohol and drugs is strictly prohibited in the country. Theft is punishable by cutting off the hand. Extramarital sexual relations are punishable by flogging. Murder and some other crimes carry the death penalty. Decapitation is used as the ultimate punishment. However, it is worth noting that the application of all penalties is possible only if many conditions are met. In particular, a thief can be punished only if there are at least two witnesses who witnessed the crime with their own eyes (and there is no doubt about their honesty). Also, if it is established that the person who committed the theft did it in case of extreme necessity (hunger, etc.), then this is also an excuse. In general, there is a presumption of innocence, that is, until guilt is reliably proven, a person is not considered a criminal. According to Sharia, it is better not to punish a criminal than to punish an innocent person.
Materials used ahhar_786
King of Saudi Arabia since 2005. Son of the first king of Saudi Arabia, Abdul ibn Saud. Commander of the National Guard since 1962. He inherited the throne from his half-brother, King Fahd, under whom he served as first deputy prime minister since 1982, and since 1996, due to the illness of King Fahd, he became prime minister and de facto ruler of the state.
Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud was born in August 1924 in Al-Riyadh, the capital of the Sultanate of Najd, which became in 1932 after the conquest of the neighboring states of the Arabian Peninsula by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He was one of the 37 sons of the first king of Saudi Arabia, head of the House of Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz al-Saud (Abdul Aziz Al Saud, 1880-1953). Abdullah's mother, Fahda bint Asi Al Shuraim, d. 1934, belonged to the nobility of the powerful Bedouin Shammar tribe. Abdullah received a traditional Islamic education at court under his father, but spent a lot of time in the desert with his mother, where he became accustomed to the Bedouin way of life.
Abdulaziz al-Saud" >
Abdullah's first government post was that of governor of Mecca. In October 1962, he was appointed by Crown Prince Faisal to the post of commander of the National Guard, an armed force independent from the rest of the army, responsible for protecting the royal family, as well as the oil fields and the cities of Mecca and Medina. This appointment was part of an intrigue organized by Crown Prince Faisal and the ulema (council of Muslim theologians and lawyers) against King Saud, who was undergoing treatment at the time and was forced to flee the country in 1964. Abdullah's reforms made the National Guard a well-organized military structure.
In 1975, King Khaled appointed Abdullah as second deputy prime minister. This meant that Abdullah could become the heir to the throne in the future. At the same time, he remained commander of the National Guard. After the death of King Khaled, the new King Fahd in June 1982, by his first decree, appointed Abdullah as Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. As heir to the throne, Abdullah actively intervened in Middle Eastern politics: in 1984 he supported the entry of Syrian troops into Lebanon and demanded the withdrawal of American marines from the conflict zone. In 1988, he acted as one of the main mediators in concluding peace between Iran and Iraq. In 1990, after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Abdullah, unlike King Fahd, was against the deployment of American troops in Saudi Arabia, but then agreed to the kingdom's entry into the anti-Iraq coalition.
In 1992, King Fahd issued an edict granting the king the right to appoint a crown prince or change an already accepted candidacy, in what was seen as an attempt to deny his half-brother Abdullah the right of succession due to disagreements between the king and the heir during the Gulf War. Abdullah's rival was the second deputy prime minister, minister of defense and Fahd's full brother, Sultan. On November 29, 1995, King Fahd suffered a stroke, which deprived him of the ability to govern the state, and in December the Sultan called the ulema to a meeting to ask for permission to remove Abdullah. At the same time, Abdullah began major military exercises of the National Guard under his control, which was much better equipped than the Saudi armed forces, which forced the ulema to support Abdullah. The crisis was resolved by King Fahd, who appointed Abdullah as prime minister on January 1, 1996, formally transferring to him the powers of head of state.
The second half of the 1990s was very difficult for Saudi Arabia due to low oil prices: under these conditions, Abdullah initiated economic reforms aimed at diversifying the economy and developing tourism. Abdullah paid special attention to the fight against corruption and limiting the costs of maintaining the royal family, which included more than four thousand princes and princesses. Abdullah forced them to pay their own multimillion-dollar telephone and travel bills. In 2004, Abdullah announced the creation of municipal councils with limited power, elections for which were held the following year, which was seen by Western experts as a first step away from absolute monarchy towards democracy.
In foreign policy before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Abdullah tried to distance himself from the United States, criticizing its Middle East policy, but he repeatedly met with US Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and did not try to withdraw American troops from his country. Abdullah did not support the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. In April 2001, Saudi Arabia managed to restore diplomatic relations with Iran, severed after the conflict in Mecca in the summer of 1987, when clashes between Saudi Arabian security forces and Iranian pilgrims demanding the overthrow of the pro-American Saudi dynasty killed more than 400 people.
In June 2000, Abdullah headed the Royal Family Council, the highest body of dynastic power in Saudi Arabia, which includes the most powerful members of the House of Saud. In 2003, he headed the State Petroleum and Mineral Affairs Council, which is responsible for developing a resource extraction strategy in Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah condemned the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and announced the need to combat international terrorism. 15 of the 19 terrorists who carried out attacks in the United States were citizens of Saudi Arabia, in addition, the families of the victims of the attacks accused the royal family of supporting al-Qaeda. Under US pressure, Abdullah gave the order to eliminate the leaders of radical Islamists, which worsened the terrorist situation in the country. A series of terrorist attacks targeting foreigners began with the Riad bombings in 2003 and continued until 2005. As a result, more than 90 civilians were killed and 510 were injured. Security forces managed to kill 112 militants, but attacks on foreigners in Saudi Arabia continued until 2007. In June 2004, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States stated that there was no evidence that al-Qaeda received money from the Saudi royal family. In February 2005, Abdullah took the initiative to create an international center for combating terrorism at the UN (the center was never created).
On March 28, 2002, at the Arab League summit in Beirut, Abdullah put forward an initiative to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict: in exchange for the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on the Palestinian Authority and Israel's renunciation of territories conquered as a result of the six-day war of 1967, he promised to recognize Israel and guarantee its safety. This proposal was supported by the Arab League, but was rejected by Israel. There are currently a number of other peace proposals, some of which, including the 2007 Annaple Conference, complement Abdullah's proposal.
On August 1, 2005, King Fahd passed away and Abdullah became the new King of Saudi Arabia, inheriting the title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques at the age of 81. After Fahd's death, Prince Sultan was appointed crown prince by Abdullah, despite their past differences. Abdullah also remained commander of the national guard and announced the creation of a hereditary council that would distribute the order of succession to the throne among the children and grandchildren of Abdel al-Saud. However, due to the illness of Crown Prince Sultan, it is not yet clear who will be the next king.
Abdullah's title change did not affect Saudi Arabia's domestic and foreign policy. Abdullah abolished the custom of kissing the hand of the monarch, saying that it was contrary to Islam. Foreign experts also considered the pardon granted by the king to the “girl from El-Qatif”, who was sentenced to 90 strokes of the cane, as a sign of liberalization. She was raped by her ex-boyfriend's boyfriends when she went to meet him after the wedding to pick up her photographs. King Abdullah also promised to “open the doors to women, give them the opportunity to participate in the life of the kingdom.” In his reforms, King Abdullah tried to please both conservatives who were against the weakening of Islamic norms and supporters of reforms.
On March 24, 2008, King Abdullah called for dialogue between Christianity, Judaism and Islam, inviting representatives of all monotheistic religions to come together, since "we all... turn to one Lord." The first World Congress of Interreligious Dialogue was held in Madrid on July 16, 2008, chaired by the King of Spain, Juan Carlos, and the King of Saudi Arabia.
King Abdullah invested $12.5 billion to build the University of Science and Technology near the city of Jeddah. It is planned that the new university will be fundamentally different from ordinary universities in Saudi Arabia: it will not have separate education for men and women, and access to the educational institution will be denied to religious police. Thus, Abdullah was going to catch up with Saudi Arabia in the field of science and education. Abdullah also sponsored the construction of large libraries in El Riyadh and Casablanca (Morocco).
During the war between Hezbollah and Israel in the summer of 2006, he played a key role in concluding a truce and providing assistance to the affected regions of Lebanon. On February 7, 2007, due to the aggravation of the internal political situation in Palestine, he convened the leaders of the Palestinian factions to hold urgent negotiations in Mecca, where the next day an agreement was reached on the creation of a government of national unity.
In 2003, as crown prince, Abdullah visited Russia for the first time, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Issues of combating terrorism and cooperation in the oil sector were discussed. At the meeting, Abdullah denied rumors that Saudi Arabia supports Chechen separatists. Abdullah subsequently met with Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov. In 2007, Putin came to El Riad on an official visit: issues of a peaceful settlement in the Middle East, cooperation in the military and technical sphere, as well as the construction of a railway in Saudi Arabia were discussed. The victory of Russian Railways OJSC in the tender for the construction of a five-hundred-kilometer section from El Riad east to the port of Dammam was officially announced in January 2008. In May of the same year, the tender was canceled by the Arab side. According to Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin, the decision to cancel the results was political, but experts believe that Russia was not able to build the road for the amount announced at the auction. In November 2007, after 13 years of negotiations, Saudi Arabia was admitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO). In June 2008, Saudi Arabia agreed to the Russian Federation joining the WTO.
In September 2011, King Abdullah announced that he would grant the women of his country the right to vote and stand as candidates in municipal elections. They also had the opportunity to be appointed to the Advisory Council (Shura Council) under the king. However, they could take advantage of the new rights only at the next elections, in 2015, or with the end of the powers of the old council in 2013. International human rights organization Amnesty International called the government's move "limited" and "belated" and called on the Saudi authorities to immediately stop discriminating against women.
King Abdullah was the richest government leader, with a personal fortune of $21 billion, according to Forbes magazine's 2006 ranking. For the ban on free religion and the violation of women's rights in Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah was regularly included in the list of dictator rulers; from 2003 to 2006, he moved from second to seventh place in the list of dictators compiled by PARADE magazine.
King Abdullah was married more than 30 times, but according to Islamic law, he can have no more than four wives at a time. As of 2006, Abdullah had seven sons and 15 daughters. Abdullah's sons occupy high government positions. Son Mutaib ibn Abdullah is deputy commander of the National Guard. King Abdullah was fond of reading, camel racing, falconry and horse riding, and he founded an equestrian club in El Riad, which is called the best in the world.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East. And the country with the largest oil reserves. Unfortunately, ordinary residents do not get to enjoy oil money - it all ends up in the pockets of members of the ruling Saudi dynasty (Al Saud). The family is large: approximately 25,000 people. But “only” 2000 of them control all the power and all the wealth of the country. And what are they doing... As they say, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
459 tons of luggage for a 9-day trip
84-year-old Alman ibn Abdul Aziz Al, the current king of Saudi Arabia, is a very rich man. It feels like money means nothing to him at all - he throws it away so easily. For example, in 2017, he needed to go on a visit to Indonesia for 9 days, so he ordered 459 tons of luggage to be taken with him. Why does he need 459 tons of luggage for 9 days? It is impossible to understand this. Yes, and what was included in the luggage? A sofa, a suitcase, a travel bag... In fact, a bunch of different equipment, including two Mercedes-Benz s600 limousines and two electric elevators. As if you couldn't find all this in Indonesia.
Game of the Saudi throne
Back in 1975, the people's favorite King Faisal ibn Abdul-Aziz Al Saud reigned. It was under him that oil production increased incredibly and enormous wealth appeared in the country. He invested in the modernization of the country, took care of the needs of the population, under him Saudi Arabia became the leader of the Muslim world and began to dictate its rules to all countries (using oil leverage).
On March 25, 1975, Faisal was shot and killed by his nephew, Prince Faisal ibn Musaid, who had returned to the country after studying at an American university. The prince approached the king, bent down for a kiss, pulled out a pistol and fired three times at point-blank range. He was found guilty of regicide and his head was cut off (although the dying King Faisal asked to spare his nephew). Faisal ibn Musaid Al Saud was beheaded with a blow from a gold-plated sword, after which his head was displayed on a wooden stake for 15 minutes for the crowd to see. These are the passions.
Hypocrisy and alcohol at parties
Consumption of alcohol in Saudi Arabia is prohibited and severely punished by law. Of course, if you belong to the royal family and you really want it, then you can do anything - including alcohol. People who worked at parties thrown by Saudi princes said that alcohol, drugs, and what not were in use there. The two-faced Al-Saids party at alcohol parties, and the next day they frantically and zealously talk about how important it is to comply with Sharia law.
Those who know too much are dealt with quickly and quietly by the Saudis.
In the next episode of “Game of the Saudi Throne” we will see how Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Fahd kidnaps his cousin Sultan ibn Turki because he wanted to tell the world the whole truth about the royal family. No joke, the Saudi royal family is corrupt to the extreme and, one might say, rotten from the inside. However, they have plenty of money and power to get rid of anyone stupid enough to open their mouth on this topic.
During a visit to Geneva in 2004, Prince Sultan bin Turki said that he was going to reveal the secret plans (or rather, evil intentions) of the Saudi government. The next day, his cousin Prince Abdul Aziz ordered Turki to be sent back to Saudi Arabia immediately. Sultan ibn Turki never again complained about the family or spoke about its crimes. After all, the one who talks a lot does not live long.
Execution of Princess Mishaal for loving the wrong person
In 1977, 19-year-old Saudi Princess Mishaal bint Fahd al Saud, the niece of then-King Khalid, was accused of adultery and executed. At the same time, her lover - the son of the kingdom's ambassador in Lebanon - was beheaded (the head was cut off with a saber and this was only possible with the fifth blow). The execution was supervised by the princess's own grandfather. So the Saudis can be very, very cruel to their own people.
Cocaine smuggling with impunity
It seems like the members of the royal family don’t have a lot of money anyway, why should they try to earn more, and at that in an illegal way? However, in 2004, Prince Nayef ibn Fowaz Al Shalaan tried to smuggle 2 tons of cocaine from Colombia to Europe in his private Boeing. He planned to launder the money through Kanz Bank (which he also owns).
In general, the plan was quite cunning, but it failed because the French police caught Nayef red-handed. But that's not the most interesting thing. When he was caught, the Al Sauds intervened and ordered France to release the prince. They even threatened to reject several important commercial deals with France if she did not comply. Therefore, Prince Nayef's accomplices are still rotting in prison, while the prince himself walks free and enjoys the sun of Saudi Arabia.
Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz killed his gay lover
When Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Nasir al Saud brutally murdered his gay lover at a luxury London hotel in 2010, his main concern at trial was to prove that he himself was not gay. After all, homosexuality in Saudi Arabia is one of the worst crimes and can be punishable by death.
According to police, before the fatal attack on his servant, the prince drank champagne, as well as six Sex on the Beach cocktails. This happened on February 14, when the couple celebrated Valentine's Day. Shortly before midnight, the lovers returned to the hotel, where they had an argument that ended in murder. Everything happened in the UK and it was not possible to wriggle out of court. The prince was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was soon sent to Saudi Arabia in exchange for five British men. There is no doubt that he is free.
“Kowtowling to the West” is a major crime
Residents of Saudi Arabia are required to obey all laws of their country, no matter how absurd or strict they may be. The main thing is to obey, pray and not try to adopt anything from the rotten West. Here's a typical example: In 2013, 21-year-old Abdulrahman Al-Khayal watched a YouTube video about a man who went out into the street and began offering random passers-by a hug - if they wanted one. Abdulrahman decided that this was a cool idea and that he should try to do the same at home, in Saudi Arabia. He wrote a “Hugs” poster, went out into the street with it and began hugging passers-by. Very soon he was arrested for criminal activities. What happened to him next is unknown. I would like to hope that he was not imprisoned, but released.
The Saudi Royal Family and Human Trafficking
Everything related to the world's oldest profession is, of course, prohibited in Saudi Arabia. And there's nothing special about it. However, it would be nice if members of the royal family also followed this law. But this, alas, is not the case.
For example, in Saudi Arabia it is illegal to celebrate Halloween due to its “un-Islamic” nature. But Prince Faisal Al-Thunayan threw a huge Halloween party at his residence. Approximately 150 men and women attended the party. With one single difference: the men came there of their own free will, and the women had no other choice. They were brought there to be sold.
And how did the royal family react when it turned out that Prince Faisal had broken several laws that night? But no way - they ignored the event. And they even threatened to kill anyone who spoke on this topic.
Media censorship
WikiLeaks has exposed the secrets of thousands of the world's most powerful people, including members of the ruling Al-Saud dynasty. Many have tried to fight WikiLeaks and somehow censor the information posted there, but no one has succeeded in this more than the Saudis. They simply banned WikiLeaks in their country. You can’t even pronounce the name of this organization if you don’t want problems.
Yes, we are talking about one of the richest countries in the world in the 21st century. There is simply no such thing as freedom of speech in Saudi Arabia. The royal family controls everything there. It is interesting that family members are not completely free: before doing anything, they must consult and ask permission from King Salman. He is still in charge.
Unpaid bills and inappropriate behavior
With their money they could probably buy up the whole world. But few of the large companies want to deal with them. Why? Yes, because it is not clear what to expect from these people. And also because these are the type of clients who do not always pay their bills. For example, Princess Maha al-Ibrahim refused to pay $1.5 million to a limousine rental company in Geneva (even though all the princess's demands were fully satisfied). Well, it only ended with the company representatives saying, “We are no longer working with this family for obvious reasons.” And there are plenty of such cases.
Royals get whatever job they want
In total, the Al-Saud family numbers 25-30 thousand people. And all the boys need to be assigned to the most prestigious jobs, so that they “earn” a lot of money and maintain the honor of the family. It is clear that they are taken without any interviews to wherever they want. Their knowledge and experience do not play any role. The surname is everything. It’s a pity for worthy people who cannot get a job because of this, and it’s a pity for a country in which inexperienced specialists are allowed to solve important issues.
Princes rob their people in every possible way
According to information from WikiLeaks, using their name, the princes receive money in various ways - for example, by borrowing from banks and not repaying the loans. Having learned from bitter experience, Saudi banks routinely reject loan requests from members of the royal family unless they have a good credit history.
Another favorite way of taking money is the confiscation of land on which it is planned to build something and which can be resold at a great profit. So when the royal brats don't have enough money to party hardcore, they just go and borrow it from the banks or take it from the public.
Saudi Arabia and North Korea are twin brothers
Saudi Arabia is one of the most repressive regimes in the world. There are no elections, political parties or parliament. The country belongs to King Salman and his family. They can do whatever they want with complete impunity. The rest of the world is afraid to interfere and somehow try to limit the power of the Saudis, because Saudi Arabia is control over the distribution of oil. Everyone knows that people there have a hard time, but no one can do anything about it. When it comes to civil and political freedoms, Saudi Arabia is the worst country in the world and can only be compared with North Korea and a couple of African dictatorships.
Dancing can turn you gay in Saudi Arabia
Everyone in Saudi Arabia is afraid of the Islamic morality police “Hayaa”, which is supposedly supposed to protect the country and people from moral decay, etc. For example, moral guards once invaded the house of a local resident and found young people dancing there. Just. However, by Hayaa standards, these men were caught in “a compromising situation in the dance, making shameful gestures.” This definition was enough to arrest everyone immediately. Moreover, the parents of these “criminals” were told that they needed to better monitor their children “because this could lead to immorality and even homosexuality.” Well, you understand, right? If you dance, it means you're gay.
To go down in history, it is not necessary to win the Battle of Borodino or sign the agreement at Camp David. It is enough to be born in the right place, at the right time, and preferably where there is a lot of gold or, at worst, oil. Just like the penultimate, sixth monarch Abdullah ibn Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud did.
In countries with despotic regimes, it is very easy to be considered a reformer. Against the background of severe pressure, any innovation, be it a change in the constitution, the resignation of a minister or a ban on kissing the monarch’s hand, looks like a triumph of the revolution. For example, Khrushchev or Brezhnev after “Uncle Joe” had only to slightly reduce the territory of the Gulag, and the place of enlightened rulers on Olympus was ensured.
In the same way, the sixth king of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah ibn Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, acquired a reputation as a reformer.
According to the covenant of the Bedouins
The founder of the current state, the first monarch of Saudi Arabia and the unifier of the Arabian lands around Riyadh was Abdullah's father Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud. He was a tough and militant politician. Not only did he manage to capture Riyadh with a detachment of 60 people and found a kingdom, he also managed to cope with 22 wives. Only a truly great man can cope with so many wives.
The future sixth king was born in 1924 in Riyadh. Biographers claim that he was the son of the king's eighth wife, whose name was Fahda. She belonged to the aristocratic Shammar clan. Before becoming Abdul Aziz's eighth wife, she was the wife of one of the emirs of the Arabian Peninsula named Saud Rashidi. This was Abdul Aziz's worst enemy. After Rashidi was killed, Abdul Aziz took Fahda into his harem. In the East they know a lot about sophisticated revenge - the ex-wife of their worst enemy not only became the beloved wife of the victorious king, but also the mother of the royal favorite.
Fahda bore the king two more daughters, about whom nothing is known except that they are the sisters of the sixth king. But the fact that he no longer had brothers later played an important role - after all, the other 42 brothers had them. And this is already a clear reason for dynastic showdowns.
Those who believe that in order to govern a state it is necessary to study for a long time, judging by Abdullah’s biography, are wrong. The future king received a traditional religious education at the royal court, and secular and political education in an ordinary, although, of course, royal school. Abdallah did not have a higher education. As Vasily Ivanovich Chapaev used to say, “we didn’t graduate from academies.” Maybe that’s why his father loved Abdullah so much, because the first king read the Koran for the first time at the age of eleven: before that he, too, was illiterate. But from childhood, Abdallah spent a lot of time in the desert, learning about the unpretentious life of the Bedouins. He often told those around him that the most important thing in his life was the moral and ethical code of his ancestors. After all, among the Bedouins, such concepts as honor, generosity and courage in overcoming life’s adversities come first. And what father is not pleased to know that his son is proud of his ancestors and origins?
Reward for Longsuffering
Abdullah had to wait a very long time for the royal throne. After all, Abdullah received his first serious position - governor of Mecca in the early 1960s, when he was 37. And he ascended the throne when he turned 81. As they used to say in Soviet times, almost 50 years in service!
True, participation in any complex events, political intrigues or behind-the-scenes battles was not observed in Abdullah’s biography. Although there was a moment in his life when the future hung in the balance.
In 1962, Abdullah's half-brother Crown Prince Faisal appointed him commander of the National Guard. In Saudi Arabia, this unit is responsible for protecting the king and top officials of the state. And Abdullah coped with the task, although, as it turned out later, the appointment was part of an intrigue organized by Faisal and the ulema (the council of Muslim theologians and lawyers) against King Saud, who was undergoing treatment at that time. In 1964, Saud fled the country - presumably, participation in the conspiracy opened a wide path to the throne for Abdullah.
In 1975, under another half-brother, King Khalid, he received the post of second deputy prime minister, and the next king, Fahd, by decree appointed Abdullah crown prince and first deputy prime minister.
Fahd also turned out to be a tough nut to crack. He was on the throne from 1982 to 2005. It must be assumed that the crown prince has already lost all hope for the crown. True, in 1995, Fahd was struck down by a stroke, and he transferred some of his functions to Abdallah. It is not known exactly what caused the stroke. But it is known that Fahd was a very gambling player. He could lose several million dollars in a casino in one sitting, and once in London, in order to get around the ban on gambling at night, he brought a roulette and card table to his hotel room. Although it is unlikely that the loss of some ten or two million dollars could have driven the king to a stroke.
So for ten whole years, Abdullah actually led the country with the rank of prime minister. But it was not until 2005, when Abdullah was 81, that Fahd died. The country has a new king - Abdullah ibn Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud.
"Hurricane" of reforms
By the time he ascended the throne, Abdullah already had a reputation as a reformer. So, in essence, he had nowhere to go. After all, two months before Fahd’s death, he allowed elections to be held in the country. True, elections are a strong word, because they were municipal and had a number of restrictions. Thus, only half of the deputies were elected, the rest were appointed by the king.
But now, having become king, Abdullah had to maintain his reputation. And King No. 6 did not disappoint.
In Saudi Arabia, it was previously customary to kiss the hand of members of the ruling family during visits to them. Younger members of the royal family were also required to kiss their hands when visiting their elders. The king became thoughtful - who needs this kiss? And he issued a decree repealing the rule, explaining to the nation that “kissing the hand is contrary to our values and ethical standards.” Now, instead of kissing, everyone began to shake hands like mere mortals.
It’s always like this with liberalism: once you start, it’s impossible to stop. After this, the king, who went into a frenzy, took and pardoned a certain “girl from El-Qatif.” She was raped by her ex-boyfriend's boyfriends when she went to meet him after the wedding to pick up her photographs. The rapists were convicted, but the girl was not forgotten either - she was sentenced to 90 blows with a cane. After all, Islamic laws allow women to be in the company of strangers only in the presence of their close male relatives. And the girl, whose name remains unknown, broke this rule. The wise king immediately figured it all out and decided that beating a girl with a stick because she got into the car with a guy she knew was not good. Agree, a very revolutionary solution!
After this, the reformer king completely swung at the sacred: Abdullah issued a decree banning all members of the Al-Saud family from using the state treasury! This was already a blow below the belt, because previously each of the 7 thousand princes and princesses could get into the treasury. For example, a family member said 2-3 million on a mobile phone, dialed the state treasury account number, and from there the money fell into the creditor’s account. Both fast and convenient! Such a rule has always been considered one of the privileges of representatives of the royal family.
And then the king took it and killed this matter! And who is he now after this? Of course, a real reformer!
After the new king came to power, the media wrote that Abdullah allegedly dreams of carrying out economic reforms aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on oil. After all, the export of petroleum products accounts for 75% of the monarchy’s budget revenues and 95% of its exports.
However, this did not happen - the monarch did not have time to make any other reforms. Age, you know. True, this same age did not prevent Abdullah from earning about 25 billion dollars during his reign and becoming the richest monarch in the world.
Although even these significant achievements did not protect the king from an accidental illness - a pulmonary infection. In December 2014, he went to a hospital in Riyadh, and on January 23, 2015, he died without having had time to enjoy either his well-deserved labor pension or the fruits of his reforms.
King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has decided to replace Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, Al Arabiya TV channel reports.
In addition, Mohammed bin Nayef lost the post of first prime minister and the post of head of the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs. Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef will head the Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia.
Instead of bin Nayef, the crown prince will be the king's 31-year-old son, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, who retained his post as defense minister and was also appointed first deputy prime minister.
As Al Arabia TV channel notes, the appointment of a new heir was supported by 31 out of 34 members of the royal family. The oath of allegiance to the new heir to the throne, Mohammed bin Salman, will be taken on Friday, June 23, at a special ceremony in Mecca.
The current head of the Saudi dynasty led the state after the death of his brother Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, who ruled the country from 1996 to 2015. Soon after his rise to power, the king radically changed the order of succession to the throne in the kingdom.
Initially, the principle of inheritance was to transfer the throne and the title of “guardian and protector of the two holy mosques” (the official title of the Saudi king - Gazeta.Ru) from brother to brother, and not from father to son. According to this principle, each of the sons of the founder of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz, was to become king.
However, the reform deprived the king's younger brother and Abduliziz's last son, Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, of the opportunity to take the throne of Saudi Arabia. The king appointed his sons as heirs, thereby rejuvenating the ruling dynasty.
In addition to changing the order of succession to the throne, princes were also appointed to ministerial positions. 55-year-old Prince Mohammed bin Nayef became head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and 30-year-old Mohammed bin Salman became head of the Ministry of Defense.
As Andrei Baklanov, deputy chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats and former Russian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, notes, traditionally in this country, senior officials were located in the form of a “two” - the king and the crown prince.
However, after the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the “troika” scheme was used in the form of the king, the crown prince and his deputy:
“There was a certain artificiality in this scheme. Meanwhile, it was felt that Muhammad’s role was growing and he carried out a number of delicate missions both in the field of internal economic security and in international affairs,” Baklanov told Gazeta.Ru.
The expert notes that the new crown prince has established connections in Russia, where he is well known. According to Gazeta.Ru’s interlocutor, the current leadership of Saudi Arabia adheres to the traditional line - “we must adapt to the realities of today, but do this with extreme caution.”
From FBI courses to crown princes
Now stripped of his title, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, 57, is the second-eldest son and one of ten children of the reigning king.
He was perceived in the West as a fairly open person by Saudi standards. The prince studied in America, although he did not complete his university education. At the same time, he attended FBI courses and also interned at the British Scotland Yard.
Bin Nayef began his career long before his father ascended the throne. In 1999, he was appointed assistant secretary of the interior. In this post, he received numerous accolades for the successful implementation of the department's anti-terrorism program. Also, Mohammed bin Nayef is the author of the government program to combat the insurgency.
The new Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was born in 1985 by his father's third wife. His brother is Turki bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG). Unlike his older brother Mohammed bin Nayef, the new crown prince studied in his homeland and received a bachelor's degree in law from King Saud University.
After completing his studies, Mohammed bin Salman spent several years in the private sector. The prince began his political activity in 2009, taking the post of special adviser to his father.
He then served as Governor of Riyadh Province, as well as Secretary General of the Riyadh Competition Council, Special Advisor to the Research and Archives Authority of the King Abdul Aziz Foundation, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Albir Society in the Riyadh Region.
Prince Mohammed is also the founder and chairman of the Foundation in his name (MISK), which aims to help youth in need.
Most recently, the new crown prince headed the Saudi Arabian Economic and Development Council, the country's main economic planning body, which among other things oversees the work of the world's largest oil company, Saudi Aramco.
According to Arab and world media, Mohammed bin Salman is the favorite and most influential son of the current king since the time when he was a personal adviser not yet to the king, but to Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.