Saudi Arabia’s voices of discontent

Saudi Arabia has mobilised thousands of troops to try to quell rising dissent in the kingdom. Protestors have called for a ‘day of rage’ and are using social network sites to rally protestors.

But will King Abdullah’s announcement of billions of dollars worth of social reforms be enough to stave off a revolution? And is the House of Saud really listening to the growing voices of discontent?

There are three main population centres in the vast Arabian Peninsula state, where demonstrations could emerge:  The capital Riyadh, which has a population of more than four million, the main port city of Jeddah, with a population of more than two million and the Shia Muslim areas of the Eastern Province, which sit on much of the vast reserves of oil in the kingdom.

Joining the programme to discuss these issues are Abdulaziz Alkhames, a campaigner for Saudi Human Rights Centre; Mai Yamani, the author of Changed Identities: the challenge of the new generation in Saudi Arabia; and Khaled Almaeena, the editor-in-chief of the English-language daily Arab News.

This episode of Inside Story aired on March 7, 2011.