On Thursday, February 16, AGSIW Visiting Scholar Hala Aldosari testified in front of the U.S.
On Thursday, February 16, AGSIW Visiting Scholar Hala Aldosari testified in front of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues at the hearing “Democracy and Human Rights: The Case for U.S. Leadership.” In her testimony, Aldosari stated:
Activists and concerned citizens [in Saudi Arabia] struggle to provide a legal basis for their advocacy in the current legal system. It is not uncommon to find irrelevant historical Islamic incidents or quotations, taken out of context, in the statements of the prosecution or the decisions of the judges to justify irrational punishments against critics or activists.
Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia has the potential not only to reinforce the deep-rooted U.S.-Saudi alliance but also to expose the fault lines that could undermine future cooperation.
Trump’s tariff agenda may complicate Gulf governments’ capabilities to advance key policy initiatives and strategic economic partnerships, including Gulf investments in the United States.
Successful public-private partnerships could help Gulf Arab states improve infrastructure without further burdening state resources.
Through its careful examination of the forces shaping the evolution of Gulf societies and the new generation of emerging leaders, AGSIW facilitates a richer understanding of the role the countries in this key geostrategic region can be expected to play in the 21st century.
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