Saudi Arabia’s Neom city project hit by violent evictions

Saudi Arabia intends to build a futuristic Neom city project at a cost of $500 billion. The Saudi government has ordered the eviction of local tribes from the project lands at all costs, even if it means using brute force against the locals.

According to human rights groups, the project has resulted in the forced relocation of more than 6,000 people.

A former Saudi intelligence officer, Colonel Rabih Alenzi, has revealed that he was ordered to use deadly force to clear land for the project, leading to the killing of Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti, a tribesman who protested against the eviction. happened. Alenzi disobeyed the order out of fear for his safety.

Satellite images showed that several villages, including al-Khurayba, Sharma and Gayal, were devastated, with homes, schools and hospitals destroyed. The Huwaitat tribe, native to the region, have been disproportionately affected.

Human rights organizations and the United Nations have condemned the expulsions and killings of local residents, many of whom are facing terrorism-related charges. The Saudi government claims that those transferred have received compensation. But reports suggest that the amount paid was much less than promised.

The Neom project has attracted international investment, including dozens of Western companies, including British companies. However, violent evictions and human rights abuses have raised concerns about the ethical implications of the project.

Critics argue that local populations should be valued and included in the development process rather than forcibly removed.

The Neom city project has become a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s ambitions, but its construction has come at a devastating cost to local tribes. As the world watches, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold and what consequences those responsible for violence and human rights abuses will face.