It is difficult to be indignant about simple sporting greed, when activists claim police repression of women is worse than ever at the heart of Saudi society
he heat and dust rise early in Riyadh. As the temperature climbs towards 34C the construction workers drive their pneumatic drills and diggers into chasms of bleached earth while the foundations for new hotels are laid.
“It’s very difficult,” Lina al-Hathloul said as she reveals that her sister’s five-year travel ban and being barred from talking in public have been upheld again. “She is back on an illegal travel ban, as is my family. It’s very stressful because this means you are back on their radar and there’s that potential they are arrested without trial. Loujain is always optimistic and hopeful. But it’s not easy knowing she’s under constant surveillance, banned from talking and can’t travel.
Lina suggests: “We have entered an era of a police state. We’ve never been a police state before. You had red lines, you had things you couldn’t do, you had repression when it comes to religious matters. But now we’re like Iraq under Saddam.”describe the situation around freedom of expression, and criticism of the regime, as the worst it’s ever been in their lifetimes. It’s more restrictive, more heavily policed and more punitive punishment for anybody who speaks out.